Kowan Jay Althaus, Bradley James Bannerman, Jamie Phillip Hasted, Kaine Lewis Hides sentenced for drug driving

Drugs found in cowboy boots and a dicey show-and-tell were all part of the drug driving matters heard in Roma Magistrates Court. DETAILS.

Kowan Jay Althaus, Bradley James Bannerman, Jamie Phillip Hasted, Kaine Lewis Hides sentenced for drug driving.

A number of people were sentenced for drug driving offences in Roma Magistrates Court on May 15.

CONVICTION RECORDED

Jamie Phillip Hasted

Jamie Phillip Hasted pleaded guilty to possessing drugs, possessing drug utensils and drug driving in Roma Magistrates Court on May 15.

The 44-year-old was charged with all three offences on February 26, after he was stopped on the Carnarvon Highway at Eumamurrin.

Police prosecutor Ellysha Geddes tendered to the court Hasted’s two-page traffic record and a certificate of analysis indicating methamphetamine and cannabis were present in his saliva at the time of the test.

Ms Geddes told the court Hasted was intercepted by a road policing officer due to a speeding matter, while driving on the Carnarvon Highway in a black dual-cab Mitsubishi at 10.20am on February 26.

“He admitted to having consumed cannabis the previous evening,” Ms Geddes said.

She also said during the interaction, Hasted consented to his vehicle being searched, in which police found a syringe and a clip-seal bag containing less than a gram of a crystalline substance, stashed in a small metal box in a cowboy boot.

“He stated he was given them by a friend a few days earlier and he was not aware of its contents,” Ms Geddes said.

“When questioned in relation to the substance located, he indicated that he believed it was amphetamine.

“Police moved the search to the defendant’s clothing bag in the rear seat of the vehicle, in which they located a black, magnetic key container.

“When questioned in relation to ownership, (he) stated he found it under his vehicle that morning.

“On opening that container, police located three small clip-seal bags, each containing white powder, less than a gram per bag.”

Ms Geddes said police also found further drug utensils during their search.

Hasted told the court he had spoken to the person responsible for placing those items in his car, and he “will take the rap for it”.

Hasted also said he was seeking help, and had three kids to look after.

Hasted had applied for a work licence, but due to previous drug-driving convictions in the last five years, he was ineligible.

Magistrate Michael Wood fined Hasted $1200, disqualified him from driving for one month, and a conviction was recorded.

NO CONVICTION RECORDED

Kowan Jay Althaus

Maranoa man Kowan Jay Althaus pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving and one charge of unlicensed driving, but pleaded not guilty to an evasion offence.

Appearing in the Roma Magistrates Court on May 15, Althaus was represented by duty lawyer Leslie Reid.

Ms Geddes tendered to the court the 25-year-old Surat man’s two-page traffic history and two certificates of analysis.

In relation to the first drug driving offence, Ms Geddes said Althaus was intercepted on August 3, 2021, driving a Toyota Echo on the Warrego Highway.

Ms Geddes said Althaus produced a NSW driver’s licence, which was suspended in Queensland at the time.

She said Althaus then returned a positive drug test, which showed methamphetamine in his saliva.

In relation to the second charge, Althaus was intercepted in a blue Holden Commodore on March 22, 2024, where his drug test was again positive for methamphetamine.

Ms Reid said the 25-year-old financially supported three children, aged seven, six, and eight-months.

She also said he was unaware his licence had been suspended when he was pulled over in 2021.

Ms Reid said Althaus had been self-medicating with drugs to deal with his depression due to missing his eight-month-old daughter.

Magistrate Michael Wood fined Althaus $1000, disqualified him from driving for three months, with no convictions recorded.

Bradley James Bannerman

Bradley James Bannerman appeared in court with one charge of drug driving, and one charge of unlawful possession of a weapon.

Bannerman pleaded guilty to drug driving, and pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a weapon.

Ms Geddes tendered to the court Bannerman’s five-page traffic history, and a certificate of analysis indicating methamphetamine and THC were present in his saliva on March 29.

Bradley James Bannerman was sentenced for drug driving in the Roma Magistrates Court on May 15.

“The facts are at 7.25pm on the 29th of (March), police intercepted the defendant on the Warrego Highway,” Ms Geddes said.

Ms Geddes said Bannerman agreed to a roadside drug test, which returned positive.

In relation to the drug driving charge, Bannerman said he had attended a concert a few weeks before, where he had consumed illicit drugs.

“I don’t usually indulge in drugs, but I did on this occasion,” Mr Bannerman said.

Mr Wood acknowledged Bannerman’s early guilty plea, and fined him $300 and disqualified him from driving for one month. No conviction was recorded.

Mr Wood ordered a brief of evidence be prepared for the unlawful possession of a weapon charge, for another mention on June 25.

In defending his unlawful possession of a weapon charge, Bannerman also had a prop to show.

“Now I don’t know if this is an appropriate time … but I just have the actual identical weapon, category M, that was found,” Mr Bannerman said, showing Mr Wood a small blade in a clip-seal bag from where he stood.

Mr Wood said: “It’s not the appropriate time, and this is why there’s security screening in most courthouses.”

Kaine Lewis Hides

Kaine Lewis Hides was charged with drug driving on March 2, 2024, after he was pulled over on McDowall St in Roma.

Represented by duty lawyer Leslie Reid, Hides pleaded guilty to one charge of drug driving.

Ms Geddes said Hides was pulled over on McDowall St on March 2, 2024 for a roadside breath test and licence check.

Ms Geddes said after a conversation with police, Hides submitted to a roadside drug test, which returned a positive for amphetamines.

“He didn’t have an emergent reason for driving at that time; he just stated he was transporting his friend and his son from some shopping,” Ms Geddes said.

Ms Reid said the 34-year-old chef has five children, aged between two and 16.

“Two days before he was intercepted by police, he was at a party and had taken amphetamines,” Ms Reid said.

Mr Wood said what was concerning to him about the matter was that Hides had other people in his car, including a child.

Mr Wood fined Hides $500, disqualified him from driving for one month, and no convictions were recorded.