Liam John Pember convicted of drug driving, failing to attend drug diversionary program

When questioned by police a Toowoomba teen said he drove to a lookout to smoke marijuana and only had his car running to charge his phone, a court was told.

A Toowoomba teenager’s view of an afternoon sunset at a lookout was soured when he was caught smoking three cones of marijuana behind the wheel of his car.

Liam John Pember appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to drug driving and contravening a direction or requirement of police.

The court was told the 19-year-old and a second person were found by police at 5.10pm on August 2 this year on the private driveway of a vacant block of land in an industrial area near Baillie Henderson Hospital.

Police prosecutor Cameron Francis said Pember was in the driver’s seat with the ignition on while charging his phone and he told police that he had driven to the lookout area where he had smoked three cones of marijuana.

The roadside drug test returned a positive result and further analysis confirmed the presence of THC in Pember’s system.

Mr Francis said Pember was issued with a minor drug diversion program attendance notice, and given an appointment date however he failed to comply with the requirement.

Pember’s solicitor Alisha Jacobsen said her client dropped out of high school in Year 10 to work in various automotive jobs.

Ms Jacobsen said Pember was in the process of moving house, which was why he forgot the appointment, but attended Toowoomba police station two days later to follow up the missed appointment.

Magistrate Graham Lee fined Pember $500, and he was disqualified from driving for three months. A conviction was recorded.