Charters Towers man James George Ford sentenced in Townsville District Court for driving on meth, marijuana and MDMA

The lawyer for a young NQ man who tested positive to a trio of drugs while behind the wheel, has claimed a shocking revelation about his alleged ‘son’ started his spiral.

Charters Towers man James George Ford sentenced in Townsville District Court for driving on meth, marijuana and MDMA (Generic image) Picture: Mark Stewart

A man who not only tested positive for drugs while driving, but was found with a commercial amount during a search has told the court of a shocking revelation made that may have caused the spiral.

James George Ford appeared in Townsville District Court on Wednesday with his mother’s support at the back of the courtroom.

Crown prosecutor Cassandra Nitz said on May 24 last year the 22-year-old was pulled over by police while driving along Racecourse Drive in Charters Towers and subjected to a drug test.

She said the man presented a positive reading for MDMA, marijuana and methamphetamine and as a result the vehicle was searched and police found six unused clip seal bags along with multiple amounts of drugs.

Altogether 5.38g of pure methamphetamine was found within 7.22g of substance, 30 tablets which included .404g of pure MDMA within a total of 1.371g substance and 494g of marijuana, in which the crown described as both for personal and commercial use.

Defence barrister Molly Mahlouzarides instructed by Legal Aid Queensland said her client who had no criminal history co-operated with police by making admissions to the drugs.

She said Ford had been in a relationship and was raising a child with the woman until they broke up and it was revealed the child wasn’t his, which his lawyer said had a “profound” impact on him.

Shortly after this, the man was also in a car accident that left him injured and so he resorted to drug use to self-medicate according to his lawyer who added he used MDMA as he felt it helped with his mental health however there was no formal diagnosis to declare.

Justice Tom Sullivan accepted the man was a youthful offender and had secured work as an employee at a service station in Charters Towers however labelled his traffic history as “disturbing”.

Ford pleaded guilty to possessing drugs in excess of 2g, possessing drugs and possessing utensils related to drugs.

He was sentenced to 16 months jail with an immediate parole release date.

“The court is showing lenience to you,” His Honour said.

“You will now have a criminal record, it will be likely you have to serve time if you have schedule one drugs again.”

Originally published as Charters Towers man James George Ford sentenced in Townsville District Court for driving on meth, marijuana and MDMA