Raymond Leslie Shapland busted with drugs after crash

A motorbike rider who was bedridden for six months after a serious crash had a stash of pot in his backpack, and a mix of booze and several drugs in his system.

Raymond Leslie Shapland, 37, pleaded guilty to drink driving, driving whilst drugs were present in his saliva and possessing dangerous drugs before the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A Toowoomba welder working in Kingaroy was busted with cannabis in his backpack and a cocktail of drugs, including meth, in his system after a serious accident left him bedridden for six months.

Raymond Leslie Shapland, 37, pleaded guilty in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Thursday to drink driving, driving while drugs were present in his saliva and possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard that Kingaroy police located Shipland on November 19, 2021, after he failed to negotiate a turn on his motorbike, crashed and hurt himself.

Police prosecutor Lisa Manns said police were searching his backpack for his photo ID when they found 1.5g of cannabis.

“Because of his injuries he was transported to hospital where they found drugs and alcohol in his blood,” Sergeant Manns told the court.

“Police (later) attempted to contact him for an interview, they attended his home and he wasn’t there.

“There was an arrest warrant and he was subsequently obtained,” she said.

Blood tests at the hospital found methamphetamines, ketamine and ondansetron in Shapland’s system.

Rosegold Legal solicitor Jay Rose said Shapland had consumed two Jack Daniels’ cans that evening and had been using cannabis recreationally.

“He was on no prescribed medication at the time of the accident and believes (the test results) may be a result of medication administered to him at the scene of the accident and in hospital.

“He moved to Toowoomba after the accident and was bedridden for approximately 6 months.

“He broke his leg, both arms and his nose.

“His change of location does explain why the police took some time to bring him before the court,” Ms Rose said.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said he took into account Shapland’s early plea.

“I was watching the ambulance show last night and I didn’t see the them pumping them with ketamine and morphine so I doubt that’s where you got it from,” Mr Sinclair said.

Shapland was fined $1000 for driving under the influence of alcohol and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

He was ordered to attend a drug diversion course.

Convictions were recorded.