Hatton Vale’s Matthew Goodrick pleads guilty in Cleveland court for drug driving

A Lockyer Valley man caught driving while on meth has blamed a bizarre mistake for the drug getting into his system.

Matthew James Goodrick outside Cleveland Magistrates Court.

A Lockyer Valley truckie’s day on the job turned sour after he was caught by police driving with meth in his system.

Hatton Vale’s Matthew James Goodrick, 45, pleaded guilty in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Monday, December 19, to one count of drug driving.

The court heard Goodrick was driving a truck on Mt Cotton Rd on October 19 when he was intercepted by police.

“The tests returned a positive result for methamphetamine,” the police prosecutor said.

“It would be detrimental if he lost his truck licence.”

Goodrick’s history was revealed in court.

“There is a previous BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) in the last five years, your honour,” the police prosecutor said.

Goodrick, who was self represented, said he had gone to visit a friend that day, who exposed him to dangerous drugs.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta read his submission to the court.

“I recognise my decision to go get drinks with an old lady friend led to me being in the presence of meth being smoked,” the submissions stated.

He was disqualified from driving for three months.

Convictions were not recorded.