Stewart Osmond Free tested positive for cannabis and meth

It was the 52-year-old’s third time in five years he had tested positive to driving with drugs in his system.

A 52-YEAR-OLD farmer caught for the third time in five years driving with drugs in his system has been warned by a Toowoomba magistrate of the consequences if he doesn’t stop using drugs.

Stewart Osmond Free was pulled over while riding a motorcycle on Taylor St, Toowoomba, about 11.45am, January 18, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.

A roadside drug test returned a positive result and further analysis found Free had methamphetamine and cannabis in his system, police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Chris Willson told the court.

Free pleaded guilty to driving with a relevant drug in his blood or saliva while on a probationary licence.

His solicitor Craig van der Hoven, of Creevey Russell Lawyers, told the court his client was a third generation farmer who needed to drive on public roads when accessing different properties.

Loss of licence would impact on Free’s work, he submitted.

Mr van der Hoven said his client instructed that he had smoked cannabis with a friend some time prior to riding on this occasion and his friend later told him he had put meth in his drink.

Magistrate Kay Philipson warned Free the penalties for such offending would only increase if he didn’t stop offending and fined him $750 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for seven months.