Aidyn McGready: Canberra teen busted driving under the influence in Batemans Bay

A Canberra P-plater caught swerving over road lines at night in a seaweed-covered car with the headlights off was “heavily affected by cannabis”, a court has heard.

Aidyn McGready was caught driving while under the influence of cannabis - driving at night with no headlights, swerving and driving slowly while his car was covered in seaweed.

A teenage P-plater caught swerving over road lines at night in a seaweed-covered car with the headlights off was “heavily affected by cannabis”, a court has heard.

The strange incident saw Aidyn McGready, 19, face Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to one charge of driving under the influence.

McGready – who resides in the ACT – was caught driving through Surf Beach near Batemans Bay late into the evening of February 12 while his headlights were off, swerving over lines and his car covered in seaweed, documents tendered to the court reveal.

The documents state officers patrolling Beach Rd in Surf Beach watched as McGready’s Nissan X-Trail drove out of the beach carpark onto the road and noticed his headlights were off, as well as seeing the “huge amounts of seaweed” covering his car.

“Officers watched [McGready’s] vehicle travel well below the speed limit and swerve over the lines,” agreed facts state.

Officers pulled McGready – 18 at the time – over and upon approaching his car, noticed straight away he was affected by drugs.

“Police immediately saw [McGready’s] eyes were bloodshot and the smell of cannabis emitting from the car,” agreed facts state.

Aidyn McGready after being convicted, fined $1600 and losing his licence for 12 months.

Court documents also state McGready was “extremely distant and vague” when responding to officers’ questions.

After completing a breath test which returned a negative result, McGready admitted to officers he had “smoked a number of cones” before getting behind the wheel.

The admission led to police searching the vehicle, who found a bag of cannabis leaves weighing 1g.

After being conveyed to the Batemans Bay Hospital for urine testing, McGready’s licence was suspended.

Officers sent the urine sample for forensic analysis in Lidcombe, which seven months later, returned the positive reading for cannabis, as well as a doctor’s note stating McGready would have been “heavily affected” by the drug at the time of driving.

Magistrate Doug Dick said Aidyn McGready had a bad traffic record before sentencing.

In court on Monday, self represented McGready apologised for the offence, noting he was “embarrassed”.

McGready also submitted he needed his licence due to his apprenticeship in the roofing industry.

“I require a licence otherwise I could lose my job,” he told the court.

However, Magistrate Doug Dick said the young man should have considered that before getting behind the wheel.

“These facts are not good,” he said.

“You were driving slowly, swerving over lanes.”

Mr Dick also said McGready’s traffic history did not assist him, noting previous offences for speeding, not displaying P-plates and disobeying traffic signals.

“It’s not a good record for a young man is it?” Mr Dick said.

McGready was convicted for the offence, fined $1600 and had his licence disqualified for 12 months.