Man fronts Lismore Local Court for celebrating Christmas Eve with cocaine, cannabis

Police proved to be the grinch for this 30-year-old, whose Christmas festivities came to an abrupt halt when he was found with the illicit drugs in his system.

In court: 30-year-old Thomas Halfhide. Photo: Facebook.

A man’s Christmas festivities came to a crashing halt when police found him behind the wheel with several drugs in his system.

Thomas Halfhide, 30, plead guilty to driving a vehicle with illicit drugs, including cocaine, in his system at Lismore Local Court on Monday.

Court documents reveal Halfhide was pulled over on Dawson St by Lismore police at 5.25am on Christmas Eve, 2020 for a random breath test.

While Halfhide tested negative to drink driving, police found cocaine and delta 9- tetrahydrocannabinol in his system.

Lismore police also found one gram of cannabis in the 30-year-old’s possession which he stated was for “personal use”.

Later when asked by police about the drug taking, Halfhide responded “no comment”.

His lawyer Elizabeth Smallwood said Halfhide was at an “end of year celebration” prior to the RBT.

The South Guyra man depended on a licence for his job where he worked at a family business, according to Ms Smallwood.

Halfhide’s mother was in court for his sentencing and Ms Smallwood said given Halfhide’s isolated residence the man would otherwise have to “rely on his parent to drive him places”.

Putting that and his financial limitations into account, Magistrate Jeff Linden convicted Halfhide and ordered he pay a $250 fine.

The 30-year-old will also have his licence disqualified for six months.