James Duggan, of Young, released from jail after admitting to drug, driving, weapons charges
The son of a repected real estate agent has showed a “wilful disregard for the law” by getting behind the wheel three times with drugs in his system.
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The drug addict son of a Young real estate agent has been released from his first jail stint after being picked up drug driving three times.
James Edward Duggan walked from the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday after being locked up in August, when he was refused bail on his third drug driving charge since December.
Duggan, originally from Young in NSW, pleaded guilty to the three drink driving charges as well as to possessing 0.6g of meth and a pair of knuckledusters.
The knuckledusters, the court heard, were a memento from the weapons collection of his late brother but Magistrate Peter Morrison said if Duggan only had them for sentimental reasons he would have kept them at home instead of carrying them around with him.
Duggan’s defence lawyer said his client’s mother was a “well regarded” real estate agent in Young, and his father had a successful tyre fitting business.
“This is a young man with a drug problem,” he said.
“On his eventual release they will be supportive of him coming home and resuming a normal, prosocial life.
“He is contrite, remorseful and anxious to put his life back on an even keel.”
The court heard Duggan was first picked up for drug driving in June, and was granted bail when he was picked up a second time, just four days later, only to be pulled over and test positive for a third time in August.
Mr Morrison said Duggan’s repeated drug driving showed a “blatant and wilful disregard for the law”.
He disqualified Duggan from driving for two-and-a-half years, and sentenced him to four months jail, suspended immediately.
Mr Morrison said Duggan had “experienced your first period of time in custody” and would likely be “going out that door (to the cells)” if he breached an 18 month good behaviour order.