A MAN caught behind the wheel of a truck with methylamphetamine in his system has been convicted, fined and put off the road for six months.
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Thomas Henry Scrivener-Williams, 30, of Bassett Drive, appeared before magistrate Catherine Follent in Bathurst Local Court.
His solicitor Evan Dowd told the court his client was pulled over for a random breath test.
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Mr Dowd said it was clear from the evidence that drug use was an issue for his client, and he had struggled with it for some time.
The court heard how the accused had suffered significant tragedy in his life, including his mother dying when he was just 20 and his father dying two years later, which Mr Dowd said went some way to explaining Scrivener-Williams' drug use and criminal record.
Mr Dowd said his client had successfully completed the MERIT (Magistrates' Early Referral Into Treatment) program and the report spoke well of him.
Mr Dowd told the court that Scrivener-Williams was remorseful and had not taken meth for 22 weeks and cannabis for 16 weeks since undertaking the program.
He asked Ms Follent to take into account his client's need for a licence, asking her to consider a fine and the minimum period of disqualification.
Police facts handed to the court told how Scrivener-Williams was driving an Isuzu truck when was stopped by police for a breath and drug test on April 22, 2020 on the Mid Western Highway.
A breath test produced a negative result and he was then given an oral fluid test, which subsequently produced a positive detection to cannabis.
He was taken to Bathurst Police Station, cautioned and questioned, before providing a sample of oral fluid, which was tested.
It returned a positive detection to methylamphetamine.
The remainder of the sample was placed in a sealed vial in the presence of the accused and sent to NSW Forensic and Analytical Science Service, according to the police facts.
The sample of oral fluid analysed returned a positive detection to methylamphetamine.
Her Honour took into account the early plea of guilt, which she said entitled the accused to a 25 per cent discount on sentence.
While there were no aggravating factors, she said his criminal history did not entitle him to any leniency, however, she said the fact there were no convictions on his record since 2016 illustrated he was capable of living a law-abiding life.
She also said there was a clear need for both specific and general deterrence.
She convicted him, fining him $750 and disqualifying him from driving for six months.