Daniel Hundal in Coffs Harbour court for driving under influence of drugs

A farmer fell in with a negative peer group and took to amphetamines to stay awake on the job, Coffs Harbour court heard when he appeared to face a drug driving charge.

A cucumber and silverbeet farmer took to drugs to help him stay awake on the job, Coffs Harbour local court heard on Monday.

He was also influenced by a group of ‘negative peers’ his lawyer told Magistrate Ian Rodgers.

Daniel Singh Hundal was before the court charged with driving a vehicle under influence of drugs (first offence).

The 48-year-old Sandy Beach farmer was picked up during a random breath test on November 20 last year.

The test was negative for alcohol but police officers believed him to be under the influence and a further test found amphetamines in his system.

His lawyer told the court that Hundal, who is supported by his wife and has two school-aged children, has removed himself from the group of negative peers he was associated with at the time of the offence.

Hundal has pursued counselling and returned clean drug tests in recent months, his lawyer also told the court.

The court also heard he suffers from bipolar disorder.

These were all details Mr Rodgers acknowledged in sentencing him but said his traffic history was not one that allowed him to extend leniency, with a number of prior matters including a drink driving offence, dealt with under the mental health act.

Hundal was convicted and fined $880 and disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for 12 months.