Andrew Lawnton pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving while on his P-plates

After first denying the use of any illicit drugs, a P-plater had to backtrack when a police roadside drug test suggested otherwise. Here’s what happened next.

A young man has faced court for drug driving when he was on his P-plates, despite telling police he had not consumed any drugs in the two weeks prior to the traffic stop.

Andrew Lawnton faced Roma Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs in September this year.

Roma police intercepted an Audi wagon with a male driver and female passenger for a random breath and drug test on Hawthorne Street, Roma, the court was told.

Lawnton denied having taken any illicit drugs within the last two weeks, however a saliva sample returned as positive for methamphetamine.

After learning of the positive result, the court was told he admitted to police that he had recently used methamphetamine.

Magistrate Shane Elliot said driving while under the influence of drugs was a “serious offence”.

“It’s a dangerous drug which adversely impacts one’s ability to drive,” he said.

Magistrate Elliot handed Lawnton a $400 fine and gave him the minimum three months driving disqualification.