David Charles Saunders in court for possessing dangerous drugs

A court has heard a plumber who was busted with meth and for drug driving started using the drug after a terrible accident at work left him with spinal injuries.

David Charles Saunders pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and drug driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

A court has heard a plumber who was busted with meth after testing positive to drug driving started using the drug after suffering a horrific workplace injury.

David Charles Saunders pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and drug driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard on October 20, 2023, at Childers about 10.45pm, police stopped a car on Churchill St.

Saunders submitted to a roadside drug test and returned a positive result, admitting to the officers he had used meth the previous day.

He told police he had picked up some meth from Hervey Bay for his own personal use and the drug was in a container behind him.

During a search, police found a pipe and a clip seal bag containing a white crystal substance believed to be meth weighing 3.6 grams.

An examination of Saunder’s saliva later confirmed he had meth, the court was told. It heard it was a sizeable quantity of meth, but it had not been analysed for purity.

Defence lawyer Travis George said a hair follicle test had been undertaken by Saunders in January and no drugs were detected.

David Charles Saunders submitted to a roadside drug test and returned a positive result, admitting to the officers he had used meth the previous day.

“That means during the period that people might find most stressful, such as Christmas and New Year’s and the like, where if there is going to be a level of relapse that’s the most likely time it’s going to occur, he’s been able to remain drug free which in my submission is something your honour can certainly take into account in relation to sentencing today.”

Mr George said Saunders was married, had children and was working as a plumber.

David Charles Saunders pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and drug driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

He had suffered a workplace injury in September 2020, Mr George said.

Saunders had been working as a plumber and was 6m up a ladder when it fell away from a wall.

As a result he was flown to Brisbane and had emergency spinal surgery before spending six to eight weeks in hospital and then completing rehabilitation to be able to walk again.

“His mental health deteriorated unsurprisingly post injury.”

Saunders found himself addicted to pain medication and then, after being weaned off that, he was introduced by a friend to meth and he turned to drugs, Mr George said.

He said Saunders had been off meth even before being caught drug driving but had been in Hervey Bay at an event and he had made a “poor decision with the peer group he was with”.

After his arrest he had stopped using drugs completely, Mr George said.

Magistrate John Milburn said Saunders had been found with meth and a utensil on a day when he was also found to be drug driving.

“You do have drug related history,” he said.

Mr Milburn said Saunders had suffered a significant injury after falling from a ladder, resulting in spinal surgery.

“Prior to that you had no association with the law and you are to your great credit now taking steps to deal with underlying issues in terms of engaging with appropriate professionals, including a psychiatrist.”

Mr Milburn said the results of the hair follicle test were also “encouraging”.

Saunders was sentenced to one month in prison, wholly suspended for six months.

He was also fined $700 and disqualified from driving for six months.