Tristan James Yates pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving on a learner licence

A learner driver who was previously convicted of unlicensed driving was busted behind the wheel with drugs in his system while he was on his way to the fish and chip shop.

A 21-year-old Roma father was busted drug driving during a takeaway pick-up while on his L-plates.

Tristan James Yates pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving on a learner licence.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said that on April 27 police intercepted a Holden Rodeo on Bowen St, Roma for a licence check and drug test.

Despite initially denying he had consumed any illegal drugs in the past two weeks, Yates returned a positive drug test reading.

He admitted to using cannabis the night before and was issued a notice to appear in the Roma Magistrates Court.

Defence lawyer Phillip Costello said his client didn’t realise that cannabis would still be in his system.

Mr Costello said the defendant was stopped by police while on his way to a Roma fish and chip shop.

Acting magistrate Michael Bice said it was a foolish decision to drive considering the defendant had a female passenger with an open licence.

“This offence is aggravated by the fact you’re unlicensed and shouldn’t have been driving, especially when you had a passenger who is fully licensed,” he said.

Yates was fined $400 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for three months.

A conviction was recorded.