Heath Collison: Man gets convicted for second time drug driving

A man who was driving with illicit substances in his system has learnt his fate in court after being caught behind the wheel a second time.

Heath Collison has been convicted for driving with drugs in his system for the second time.

A central west drug driver has been convicted again – for driving with illicit drugs in his system for the second time in three years.

Heath Dwain Collison, 52, appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday pleading guilty to driving with an illicit substance in his system.

Facts tendered to the court state Collison was convicted for the same offence in August 2020, where he received a $500 fine and was disqualified for 12 months.

According to the facts, Collison conducted a random breath test in December around 2.50pm - he returned a negative result.

NSW Police asked him to do an oral fluid test where he returned a positive result to cannabis.

Dubbo courthouse. Picture: Ryan Young

He was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station to produce a secondary test.

Collison told police he “smoked cannabis at home” around 6am that morning.

His solicitor stated that Collison’s history record does not support him as “it is extensive”.

Collison’s solicitor said that his client has a history of using heroin, cannabis and other drugs.

The solicitor pleaded that Collison was on his “way to the gym” which was “only an 800m drive”.

His submissions stated Collison needed his licence to help pick up his grandchildren from school and that he is actively involved in training greyhounds out of town.

Magistrate Gary Wilson said Collison has an “extensive traffic record” and asked him to surrender his licence in court.

Collison was convicted and is disqualified for driving for six months.