Ryan Hill, 36, pleads guilty to driving offences in Alice Springs Local Court

An ex-cop has watched his chippie son plead guilty to a string of driving charges – one which contained a ‘touch of THC’.

Alice Springs Local Court: Picture: Gera Kazakov

Friday beers with a “touch of THC” have landed a Red Centre chippie in court, where his ex-copper father watched him plead guilty to a string of driving charges.

Ryan Hill, 36, whispered his guilty plea to driving a vehicle unlicensed, driving drunk, and driving with cannabis in his system at Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday.

Police sergeant Phil Emmet, reading out the statement of facts, said Hill was driving a blue Holden Commodore ute on Smith Street when he was pulled over on August 9.

He was caught with cannabis in system and a blood alcohol reading of 0.087 – all while driving on a licence which expired July 2022.

Sitting in the gallery was his stone-faced dad, who the court heard was an ex NSW police officer and NT Corrections officer.

Hill kept his head down while his father stared straight ahead – sometimes signalling his son to stand up to Judge Carly Ingles addressed him.

Lawyer John Stirk said Hill normally rode a bicycle to work, however, on the day he chose to drive he had “a sick dog” which he was taking with him.

Mr Stirk said his client is a qualified carpenter and was having after work beers on Friday – “with a touch of THC” – when he decided to get behind the wheel.

Mr Stirk said his client “accepts some intervention is required”.

Judge Ingles adjourned the case for sentencing while community corrections conduct an assessment.

Hill will be back in court November 30.

Originally published as Ryan Hill, 36, pleads guilty to driving offences in Alice Springs Local Court