Snake catcher snared fifth offence in five years

City snake catcher was snared with his fifth drugged driving offence in five years, exposing himself to time behind bars and an extended driver’s licence disqualification period.

David Gregory Wiedman risked actual incarceration after repeated drugged driving charges

David Gregory Wiedman will have a jail sentence hanging over his head for the next 15 months after he pleaded guilty to his fifth drugged driving offence in five years.

Wiedman, 39, fronted the Toowoomba Magistrates Court today to plead guilty to an offence dated from February 7.

Police prosecutor Jessica Lynch said officers had intercepted Wiedman for a roadside drug test about 11am.

Sgt Lynch told the court Wiedman returned a positive reading for cannabis but made no admissions about recent drug use.

The court heard Wiedman had form when it came to drugged driving.

Sgt Lynch brought up prior convictions for offences in 2017 and 2016 that both carried 12-month probation terms.

They came after earlier convictions that were dealt with by fines.

“It is very serious offending that continues even in light of those periods of probation,” Sgt Lynch said, in asking Magistrate Graham Lee to jail Wiedman.

Initially, Wiedman appeared in court without legal representation.

He told the court he smoked some cannabis the night before the detection and was driving to help his parents.

But first Magistrate Lee adjourned the matter, advising Wiedman to speak with the duty lawyer as he risked a jail sentence of up to nine months because he had two prior convictions in the past five years.

After a short recess, solicitor Matt Gemmell appeared on Wiedman’s behalf.

He conceded that a jail term was in range, saying Wiedman’s offence history was “undeniable”.

Mr Gemmell said Wiedman worked as a snake catcher and was serving out a lengthy period on parole for an unrelated offence that would run until September 13.

“My client is doing very well on parole,” he said.

“I would ask that any jail term be suspended as to not interfere with the good work he is doing while on parole.”

In sentencing, Mr Lee said he was satisfied that jail was an appropriate sentence, despite Wiedman’s early guilty plea.

“The aggravating feature is your prior offending,” he said.

“You have been given two lots of probation, and they do not seem to have had any effect,” he said.

Mr Lee sentenced Wiedman to three months in jail, suspended for 15 months.

He also disqualified Wiedman from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for eight months.

Originally published as Snake catcher snared fifth offence in five years