Damon St Clair Smart pleads guilty to drug driving in Warwick Magistrates Court

A drug and alcohol counsellor says he was not a “stupid person” when explaining his decision to drive with multiple substances in his system.

A drug and alcohol counsellor probably should have known better after he was busted driving with meth and cannabis in his system.

A drug and alcohol counsellor caught driving with multiple illicit substances in his system has told a magistrate the potential consequences of driving after drug use “did go through his mind”.

Damon St Clair Smart was busted on the afternoon of July 12 when police intercepted him driving on Dragon St.

“A saliva test was completed, returning positive for methamphetamine and cannabis,” police prosecutor Sergeant Steve de Lissa said.

Smart, choosing to represent himself in court, delivered a bizarre monologue to the magistrate about his “own truth”.

“I understand this is important and obviously I will put the truth forward – my truth – and I will not lie to you as I do not lie,” Smart said.

“So there is one, the amphetamine, which was not administered to me voluntarily, but that’s irrelevant as you’ve probably heard it a million times.

“But my background is a drug and alcohol counsellor, and sure I do smoke marijuana occasionally, between high anxiety and depression from that work, but they (amphetamines) are something I never would or have done voluntarily.

The man said he waited before driving to give a friend a lift and the consequences “did go through his mind.”

“I was not inebriated, I didn’t know how much time had passed, and the dynamics surrounding the testing of those drugs clearly caught me in the bracket,” he said.

“I am not a stupid person and I stand up for myself and take what is coming for me. There’s not much to it and there’s no reason to make an excuse.”

Warwick Magistrates Court (Photo: Philip Norrish)

Smart said he was on a limited income as he had to care for his mother.

Smart plead guilty to one charge of drug driving in Warwick Magistrates Court.

Magistrate Janice Crawford said she accepted that the amphetamine was not taken deliberately.

“You did know that you used cannabis but you didn’t feel intoxicated, there was no issue with your manner of driving but it was in your system,” Ms Crawford said.

Smart was fined $350 and suspended from driving for one month.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Damon St Clair Smart pleads guilty to drug driving in Warwick Magistrates Court