Jason Luke Howett, 44, caught drug driving twice in fortnight
A Central Qld father of seven was busted drug driving on meth twice in a fortnight - but those weren’t his only mistakes.
Father of seven Jason Luke Howett was caught drug driving on methamphetamine twice in a fortnight - but those weren’t his only mistakes.
The first time Howett was caught drug driving was on Tank St, Gladstone, on May 22.
Then just 12 days later, he was busted again on Gladstone’s French St.
The second time police caught Howett, they found him in possession of 1.8g of meth but not before he obstructed them.
He subsequently did not provide ID as directed.
Howett, 44, accepted those facts in Gladstone Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving, possessing dangerous drugs, obstructing police, and contravening a police requirement.
The court heard his criminal and traffic histories were both eight pages and he had a previous drug driving offence in the past five years.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Allison Johnstone said Howett had previously been given imprisonment sentences for drug offending.
Solicitor Cassandra Ditchfield said Howett was a single dad of seven who, since the last of these offences, had remained “clean” of drugs.
“And intends to stay that way,” she said.
Ms Ditchfield said the 1.8g of meth Howett was caught with was “not pure weight”.
The solicitor tendered a reference for Howett, who was employed with variable hours.
Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced Howett to three months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of six months.
She also fined him $1400 and disqualified him from driving for three months.
Convictions were recorded.
