List of Toowoomba drug drivers guilty of driving with meth in their system

From a woman who works at a law firm to a stay-at-home dad, here’s a list of Toowoomba meth users who lost their licence in April after they were caught with the “wicked” drug in their system

. Picture: Regi Varghese

Multiple Toowoomba region drivers lost their licence in April 2024, after fronting court for driving with the insidious and addictive drug methamphetamine in their system.

Magistrate Clare Kelly said during her sentence remarks that ice was a wicked drug that ruined lives and took a toll on the community.

Ms Kelly also said drivers who had the dangerous drug in their system had put themselves and other road users at risk.

The following drug drivers fronted the Toowoomba Magistrates Court between Tuesday, April 16, and Thursday, April 17:

Robert Andrew Furlong

A Toowoomba court heard a Toowoomba dad struggling with a drug addiction may kill himself if he continued to use methamphetamine.

When Robert Andrew Furlong pleaded guilty to two charges of driving with the drug in his system, he told the Toowoomba Magistrates Court he was making every effort to get clean after being diagnosed with a serious heart condition.

The new father said he used meth because it made him “feel more alive”, but as his heart was working at 40 per cent capacity he’d “had enough” of the drug.

The Toowoomba Court House.

The court heard the 54-year-old dad returned a positive roadside reading for drugs when he was pulled over on Teesdale Ave, Newtown, at 11.40am on December 18, 2023.

On February 27, 2024, Furlong again tested positive after being pulled over on Gladstone Street, however on that occasion, he told the court he thought there were no drugs present in his system because he did a drug test at home.

The court heard he had a history of drug related offending, and a $2900 Sper debt.

On April 16, Furlong was placed on a 12-month probation order to assist his rehabilitation efforts.

His licence was disqualified for three months.

A conviction was recorded.

Lana Rose Shearer

A court heard a Toowoomba woman who works at a law firm was on a good behaviour bond when she was caught driving with meth and cannabis in her system on February 24, 2024.

At the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on April 16, Lana Rose Shearer pleaded guilty to having drugs in her system when pulled over on James Street at 8.53am.

The court heard the 34-year-old administrator had not been before the courts for drug driving before, however she was on a good behaviour order at the time for an unrelated criminal offence.

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Police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb said in October 2023, Shearer was sentenced to a six-month good behaviour order with a $350 bond, for possession of dangerous drugs and a schedule four prescription drug.

The court heard Shearer was facing significant stressors at the time of the offending.

She was fined $450, ordered to pay the $350 recognisance, and had her licence disqualified for one month.

No conviction was recorded.

Anthony James Davidson

A court heard a homeless man living with schizophrenia was driving to support services when he was pulled over by police on March 8, 2024, and returned a positive reading for meth and cannabis.

At the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on April 16, Anthony James Davidson pleaded guilty to drug driving and was fined $450.

He also had his licence disqualified for three months.

Police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb said it was Davidson’s second drug driving offence.

The court heard the 49-year-old father of nine kids, aged between 15 and 20 years old, was homeless at the time and had a prescription for medical cannabis.

A conviction was recorded.

Brett Raymond Pearson

Toowoomba man Brett Raymond Pearson fronted the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on April 17 and pleaded guilty to driving with methamphetamine and cannabis in his system.

The court heard Pearson had a medical cannabis prescription for an injury he sustained while working as a horse trainer.

On December 17, 2024, Pearson returned a positive roadside reading after officers pulled him over on Lamberth Rd at Goondiwindi about 1.30pm

The court heard the 54-year-old man was on a disability support pension and living with schizophrenia.

He was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

A conviction was recorded.