Grant Douglas Matthews charged with dangerous driving while adversely affected by drugs

The 36-year-old was already on bail for similar offences and was refused bail and remanded in custody.

The 36-year-old was accused by police of driving recklessly in the Wilsonton Shopping Centre car park, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

A 36-YEAR-OLD man who police claim drove recklessly through the Wilsonton Shopping Centre car park forcing a pedestrian to jump out of the way has been refused bail and held in custody.

Grant Douglas Matthews was taken into custody by police who arrested him shortly after the alleged incident in Wilsonton about 3pm Monday.

He appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday via video link from the watch house on nine charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while adversely effected by an intoxicating substance, failing to provide a sample of saliva for testing, disqualified driving and public nuisance.

Objecting to his application for bail, police prosecutor Sergeant Natalie Bugden told the court Matthews was on bail for similar charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, disqualified driving and two counts of evading police for which he had been before the same court on December 14.

Duty lawyer Jag MacDonald, of MacDonald Law, said it was conceded Matthews had issues with methamphetamine but he had been to rehabilitation courses three times and was waiting to go into Sunrise Way for further rehabilitation.

If granted bail, Matthews would live with his parents in Glenvale and subject himself to random drug testing and report to police, he submitted.

These charges were contested, Mr MacDonald said.

“How can I stop him getting into a car,” Acting Magistrate Damian Carroll asked.

Noting he was already before the court for similar charges, Mr Carroll refused bail and remanded Matthews in custody to appear for mention back in the same court on February 15 when his other charges were to be mentioned.