Drug-driving dad Patrick Hendry says he didn’t know it was illegal to possess cannabis

A full-time dad caught driving with meth in his system told police he didn’t know it was illegal to possess cannabis.

A full-time single father of 10 faced court after being caught driving under the influence of multiple drugs.

Bellbird Park resident Patrick Hendry, 46, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates court yesterday (July 7), charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count of driving under the influence of drugs.

The court heard that Hendry was pulled over by the police on May 10, 2022, and he was the only one in the car at the time.

After a conversation, the police searched his car and located 0.4 grams of methamphetamine in a clip seal bag in the ashtray.

They charged him with unlawful possession of a dangerous drug and issued him a notice to appear.

Just three days later on May 13, Hendry was pulled over again and administered a roadside drug test.

The test came back positive, and the police found 1.3 grams of cannabis and cling wrap inside his pocket.

When questioned, Hendry told police he didn’t know it was illegal to possess cannabis.

Bellbird Park resident Patrick Hendry, 46, who appeared before the Ipswich Magistrates Court on July 7, 2022. Picture: Facebook

The police then took Hendry to the nearest station to test his saliva, and they identified both methamphetamine and cannabis in his system.

In court, Magistrate Dennis Kinsella noted that Hendry had been “highly cooperative” with the police throughout those events.

On July 7 2022, Hendry pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count of driving under the influence of drugs.

His lawyer Peter Sloane said Hendry was a single father with 10 children – five of which were in his care.

Hendry had a dated criminal history of similar drug-based matters, along with a more extensive traffic history, including one dated drug drive and multiple drink drives.

Mr Sloane said Hendry had struggled with alcohol and cigarette addiction in the past, but that he had given both up five years ago to take better care of his children.

Hendry has worked in the past in various roles in West Queensland including as a truck driver, labourer, and on cattle stations. However, Hendry gave those roles up in the late 2000s to be a full-time dad.

Mr Sloane said Hendry had told him that his occasional use of cannabis is “a little bit of respite.”

Magistrate Kinsella laughed and said he can “understand the need for respite given the situation, but you can’t condone this though.”

“I can understand this concept of needing some respite – some break from the kids – but importantly, the way you go about it, you shouldn’t be doing it that way.”

“Find another outlet,” he told Hendry.

Magistrate Kinsella warned Hendry about the use of methamphetamine in particular, saying, “You’ve got to keep yourself away from this drug. It’s not worth it, okay? It’s not worth it for these kids.”

“It’s not a good drug. It destroys families. It destroys brains.”

Hendry was ultimately convicted and fined $1000, with one month to pay.

Magistrate Kinsella commented, “That’s money that is better spent on your kids, isn’t it?”

Hendry was further disqualified from driving for two months – which Magistrate Kinsella noted was on the lower end, but appropriate given Hendry’s rehabilitation efforts.

Originally published as Drug-driving dad Patrick Hendry says he didn’t know it was illegal to possess cannabis