Harley Bud Lester: Phillip Bay man to be sentenced for drug driving
The drug driving son of a former Sydney Roosters flyer – who ran a red light in front of police officers – will have to wait to learn his fate.
Wentworth Courier
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A Phillip Bay man who drove through a red light while under the influence of drugs will learn his fate in three months, with his sentence date pushed back to him to undergo counselling and to accommodate a trip to Bali.
Harley Lester – the son of former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters winger Gavin Lester – appeared at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday with his lawyer James Elliot.
The 20-year-old was set to be sentenced for driving under influence of drugs following a previous plea of guilty, however the proceedings were adjourned for 12 weeks.
Mr Elliot successfully argued his client needed more time to undergo counselling before the matter could be finalised. The court heard in the period before Lester is sentenced, he will visit the tourist hotspot of Bali.
The court also heard Lester had suffered “an accident” which had interfered with his plans to undergo counselling following the arrest, which Mr Elliot said he wanted the court to consider.
Agreed facts tendered to the court outline how about 9.45pm on August 9, Lester was driving with a male passenger on McCauley St, Matraville before running a red light and attracting the attention of the police.
Police officers activated their warning lights, the facts state.
Lester increased his speed and made a harsh turn, but was soon stopped by officers.
When speaking with Lester, officers noticed “a strong smell of cannabis” emanating from the car, his eyes were “bloodshot”, his skin appeared pale and his clothing was disarranged.
When questioned about the smell of cannabis, he told police he had “just finished a smoke”.
The facts state police formed the view Lester was “moderately affected by a substance other than alcohol” and arrested him.
A certificate produced by a government pharmacologist states “at the time of driving, [Lester] was under the combined influence of Diazepam … and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol … to the extent that his driving ability would have been impaired”.
Magistrate Ross Hudson adjourned the sentencing to October 18.
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