Dalby man discovered with weapons, illegal meds stash

A Dalby man was caught with a range of illegal weapons and prescriptions meds, such as Viagra, after he was found by police in a reclined car seat with the engine running.

A Dalby man has faced court after he was found in possession of drugs and weapons.

Police made an alarming discovery when they came across a car that was pulled over on the side of a Dalby road with the engine running, and no view of anyone in the driver’s seat, before finding a man lying reclined in the vehicle.

Dalby Magistrates Court was told police noticed a pile of vomit outside the car when they went to question Sam William French in the early hours of the afternoon on September 21 last year.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told the court police had reason to believe the man was under the influence.

“When they searched the car they found clip seal bags, taser, knuckle duster, a glass pipe, Viagra, benzodiazepine, and a notebook with information like a tick sheet,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

The court was told French claimed to police he was holding the taser for a friend.

Sergeant Hutchins told the court police did not believe French, who was also sentenced for driving under the influence last year, was dealing drugs as the medication was limited.

Defence lawyer Matthew Harradine said his client, who had worked 30 years as a mechanic, reached out to receive professional help regarding his mental health following the incident.

“He instructed they were small amounts (of medication) and the taser was inactive, and the knuckle duster was a novelty item,” he said.

“There’s no excuse for having those.”

Magistrate Kyna Morice acknowledged the French’s steps in addressing mental health concerns, but warned that he was on his last legs of receiving no conviction being recorded.

French pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of weapons, two counts of possessing medicines or hazardous poisons, possessing explosives, property suspected of having been used in connection with drugs and possessing drug utensils.

He was fined $600, and no conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Dalby man discovered with weapons, illegal meds stash