‘Out of it’: Tradie faces Southport Magistrates Court for driving after ‘numerous drugs’

A Gold Coast tradie caught driving with a cocktail of drugs in his system was so ‘out of it’ that he didn’t know whether it was night or day. Read his excuse

A Gold Coast tradie caught driving on a cocktail of drugs did not know what time of day it was, a court has been told.

Pacific Pines man Oliver Taylor Manning pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to one charge of driving under the influence.

About 4.20am on June 17, police pulled over the 25-year-old after they observed him unable to maintain his position in a lane while driving.

Police noted Manning “appeared out of it” and mistakenly thought the time was late afternoon and not early morning, the court was told.

He was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Gold Coast University Hospital for a blood test.

Oliver Taylor Manning outside the Southport Courthouse.

The results found there were numerous drugs in the tradie’s system, the court was told.

Manning’s solicitor Allanah Patron said her client, who owns his own business, was receiving workers compensation.

She said the 25-year-old used drugs to help his pain, which he had been experiencing since 2016.

Some of the drugs in the tradie’s system were prescription medication, while others were not, the court was told.

Magistrate Mark Bamberry noted there was “a large number of substances” in Manning’s system.

The Pacific Pines man was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $400.