Gregory Weber: Chifley man convicted for resisting police, refusing drug tests and repeat traffic offences

An unlicensed and unemployed “Covid denier” has been busted illegally cruising the streets of Sydney’s glitzy eastern suburbs in a luxury BMW.

An unlicensed and unemployed “Covid denier” has been busted illegally cruising the streets of Sydney’s glitzy eastern suburbs in a luxury BMW.

Gregory Gary Weber, of Chifley, first caught the attention of police when he pulled his green BMW 5 series into the bus zone on Botany Rd, Mascot about 11.50am on September 22.

The 37-year-old tested positive for methylamphetamine and was charged with driving unlicensed, drug driving and failure to comply with a Covid direction as was in the company of another man who did not live at his address.

When officers pulled him over again in the same luxury BMW on November 12, this time on Bunnerong Rd, Little Bay, an uncooperative Weber showed a provisional licence which expired in 2014 and told police he had been waiting six months to take a driving test.

This time he refused to take the drug test despite “numerous opportunities” to do so.

Gregory Gray Weber was convicted of several traffic and other offences

“The accused was informed he would be handcuffed to ensure he did not escape custody and to prevent injury to himself or police,” the court documents read.

“The accused immediately became aggressive and pulled his hands away.”

Things escalated when Weber began swearing at the officers and was restrained on the ground before refusing another drug test at Maroubra Police station.

He was charged with two counts of refusing to provide an oral sample for the drug test, resist police and driving while never holding a licence.

Weber’s defence lawyer told Waverley Local Court his client had been suffering from delusions linked to undiagnosed schizophrenia and believed it was his right not to be handcuffed or “persecuted” by police by taking a drug test.

“He went to go and get his licence from RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) and he had his learners licence and he booked in to do his driving test and had his intention to get his licence but … he was deluded that Covid had shut down these tests,” he said.

He acknowledged Mr Weber’s criminal history involved 11 driving matters since 2003, but said most resulted in minor punishments.

Webber’s lawyer asked Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge to allow his client to be dealt with via the mental health act as opposed to criminal law, a request she rejected.

Referring to the “very serious matters” in the agreed facts, Magistrate Milledge said the unemployed Weber, who receives funding through Centrelink, was a “Covid denier” who “didn’t want to use public transport because he didn’t want to catch Covid”.

“The psychologist speaks of him using cannabis at the age of 16 … At the age of 18 he found himself on ecstasy pills and then had it daily and was introduced to ice and has been on ice ever since. That’s addiction,” she said.

“Being on addictive substances allows him to validate why people don’t want him around.”

She said Mr Weber was still “able to function, use an ATM and speak to police” despite suffering from delusions.

Magistrate Milledge noted Mr Wilson was diagnosed with ADHD, generalised anxiety, major depressive disorder, substance disorder alcohol disorder, substance induced psychosis and had potential schizophrenia, but that he’d had “every opportunity” to address his mental health.

“The fact of the matter is we’re all suffering but it hasn’t stopped you from embracing drugs,” she said.

“I bet everyone in this courtroom has had terrible things happen in their life where they just want to curl up and die – you’re not alone in having problems.”

Weber was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month conditional release order, fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months.