Ryan Scott Jackson guilty of driving, drug, weapon offences

The Bundaberg author of an online book about bullying drove drugged and disqualified, causing a major crash that left a woman trapped in her car.

Ryan Scott Jackson.

A man who was driving with meth in his system when he caused a crash, requiring a woman to be cut from her car, has been sentenced in Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

Ryan Scott Jackson appeared in court on November 3, 2022, where he pleaded guilty to one count of driving without a licence (disqualified by a court order), one count of drug driving (holder of learner, probationary or provisional licence), one count of authority required to possess explosives, one count of possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, and one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Police prosecutor Grant Klaassen said that on August 31, police attended a two-car crash at the intersection of the Bundaberg Ring Rd and Elliott Heads Rd, Ashfield.

Sergeant Klaassen said Jackson was driving a white ute when he veered into a woman driving a blue Holden.

As a result of the crash, the woman was trapped and had to be cut from her car.

A roadside drug test revealed Jackson had meth in his system and had his licence disqualified.

When he was placed in custody, police found a clip-seal bag on Jackson which contained a small amount of crystal substance and a single 22-round of ammunition.

Jackson appeared from custody via videolink and was self-represented.

He told the court he wanted to be released on “automatic parole” or a suspended sentence.

“I should be out there working,” he said.

The scene of the crash caused by Jackson's dangerous driving at the intersection of the Ring Road and Elliott Heads Rd.

“I feel like, I’m in custody now, is like quadruple jeopardy punishment for the money I’m losing, my reputation.”

Jackson also told the court he suffered from PTSD and wanted to take steps towards seeking rehabilitation if he felt tempted to fall back into drug use.

He said he’d taught himself not to steal, and that was something reflected in his criminal history.

“I have not stolen in a long time,” Jackson said.

“I ended up starting my business and learned the value of a dollar.”

Mr Jackson also told the court about an online book he’d written, which tackled the issue of bullying, and how he had penned it in order to raise money for troubled youth.

He said he was still “stuffing up” his own life, but wanted to help young people not to do the same.

“I’m the sort of person who has to learn the hard way,” he said.

Magistrate John McInnes said he’d taken Jackson’s early plea of guilty into account, as well as his work ethic, that he had written a book to help others.

“(The crash has) given you some insight that you tend to learn things the hard way,” he said.

Mr McInnes also noted his lengthy history with the courts, including stints in prison.

He said while it was too early to discern a pattern, there had been some signs Jackson was making an effort to change for the better.

But he said he also couldn’t ignore the fact Jackson had been caught driving disqualified 15 times in the past few years – a history of disqualified driving the magistrate said was among the worst he’d seen.

Mr McInnes said the dangerous driving committed by Jackson was “at the lower end of the scale” because it had happened during a momentary lapse of judgment.

For driving without a licence (disqualified by a court order), Jackson was sentenced to 12 months’ prison.

He was further sentenced to one months’ prison for drug driving, one month for possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, three months for dangerous operation and convicted but not further punished for authority required to possess explosives.

For disqualified driving, Jackson had his licence disqualified for two years, with a three-month disqualification for drug driving and six months for dangerous operation, which were all cumulative.

Jackson’s sentences were concurrent, and his parole release date was set at December 24, 2022.