St George Magistrates Court: Drink and drug offenders

Several people fronted the St George Magistrates Court this month for drug and drink-driving related offences. Full list of names here:

From a man driving to work with methamphetamine and marijuana in his system to a young Roma man drug driving on his P-plates, these are the people who fronted the St George Magistrates Court on August 17 for drug and drink driving related offences.

From a man driving to work with methamphetamines and marijuana in his system to a young Roma man drug driving on his P-plates, these are the people who fronted the St George Magistrates Court on August 17 for drug and drink driving offences.

While a Surat local may have given up his methamphetamine addiction, the court heard he hadn’t quite ceased all drugs.

Beven Wayne Combarngo was caught driving in St George with marijuana in his system.

The St George Magistrates Court heard the abattoir worker had a methamphetamine addiction and was clean for two years.

Magistrate Kerri O’Callaghan told the man he needed to get back on track to avoid coming to court.

“It’s good to hear you’ve ceased methamphetamine use but if you keep taking cannabis, you will keep coming back before the court,” she said.

Combarngo pleaded guilty to drug driving and was placed on probation for six months and disqualified from driving for six months.

An Indigenous ranger has attempted to change his life with a three-month long rehabilitation program, the court heard.

John Keith Draper pleaded guilty to possessing drugs and drug utensils in court after police found 0.3 grams of marijuana, and pipes at his home in St George.

Sergeant Hutchins said the man had several drug-related offences on his criminal history.

Solicitor Michael Corbin said his client had completed a 12-week Drug Arm program and wanted to turn his life around.

Her Honour acknowledged the man had a good employment history and engaged with a program before attending court.

Draper was fined $950.

A St George woman promised she would not appear in court again for drug related offences after being prescribed with medicinal marijuana.

When police searched for a wanted person at Marijke Lenore Rogers’ home, officers not only located the man but also found marijuana, a bong, bowl and clipsal bags.

Rogers told Magistrate O’Callaghan she was recently prescribed medicinal alternatives and would not be caught with the illegal drug again.

She pleaded guilty to possessing drug utensils, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime and possessing drugs and was fined $500.

Brendan Kenneth Ferguson will be off the roads for three months after he was busted drug driving on his way to work.

The court heard Ferguson was driving a heavy vehicle wide load when he had a combination of methamphetamine and marijuana in his system.

Sergeant Hutchins said he was intercepted by Charleville road policing.

Ferguson pleaded guilty to drug driving and was fined $550.

No conviction was recorded.

An unemployed 19-year-old Roma man was warned of the serious impact drug driving on a busy highway can have on other drivers.

Jackson Simon Smith was busted by Longreach Police on the Carnarvon Highway in St George with marijuana in his system.

Mr Corbin told the court his client lived with his parents and was looking to start an apprenticeship.

The P-plater pleaded guilty to drug driving.

The magistrate acknowledged that he had a clean criminal history but warned of the dangers of drug driving.

“You are still young and on your P-plates, I hope you learn not to use drugs and drive as it has a serious impact on every other road user, including yourself,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

Smith was disqualified from driving for three months and fined $350.

No conviction was recorded.

A young New South Wales man told the court he would lose his job if he lost his licence after being caught drink driving in St George.

Harry Edward Pollard was intercepted late at night in July driving a Holden ute.

“He provided his New South Wales licence and returned a breath analysis result of 0.063,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

Pollard pleaded guilty to drink driving and was banned from driving for six weeks and fined $500.

He was granted a restricted work licence. No conviction was recorded.