A Dubbo man who told police he 'smokes a joint' every day, has fronted court for his eighth driving offence.
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Jason Phillip Drew, 47, was driving a blue Nissan Navara ute when he was stopped by police at Eagle Avenue in Dubbo for random testing, about 3.45pm on August 12 this year.
Drew was asked for his licence when he told the officers "I don't have it, I lost it".
According to court documents, police checks revealed his learner licence was disqualified and had expired in August 1993.
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Further checks revealed he was stopped in January this year for driving while disqualified, which he had received a fine for in court.
Despite a negative alcohol reading, Drew tested positive to cannabis and methamphetamine.
He was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station for secondary testing, which also returned positive to drugs.
When asked about taking drugs, Drew told police he "smoked a joint yesterday morning at home. I have it every day".
In Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, Drew pleaded guilty to drug driving and driving never licenced.
Defence lawyer Carmen McKay said her client instructed her he was illiterate, and lacked both the confidence and capacity to sit for a drivers licence.
However she said her client had engaged with Sureway to assist him, to hopefully one day sit the test.
The court heard he had driven in order to get to work, as he does labour work on a property between Dubbo and Gilgandra, as usually relies on family and friends.
"He's very regretful for his decision to drive on this day," Ms McKay said.
However the court heard it was Drew's right driving licence related offence, his last was earlier this year when he received a fine. Ms McKay said his last offence of this kind prior to this was in 2010.
Magistrate Theresa Hamilton took into account his early plea of guilt, the fact it wasn't his manner of driving that brought him under police attention, and submissions made about his issues with literacy.
"Obviously he shouldn't have been driving, particularly with methamphetamine and cannabis in his system," she said.
Drew was convicted, disqualified from driving for four months and fined $700.