Licence gone for 5 years

A TOOWOOMBA man with a history of drug driving has been ordered off the roads by a court for more than five years.

Edward William Wallace Scheiwe had been riding a motorcycle on West St when he ran into the rear of a utility stopped at the corner of West and Cumming Sts about 3.45pm, October 14, last year.

The motorbike slid under the ute’s tray and crashed, puncturing the bike’s fuel tank, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The ute’s driver told police the motorbike rider had been screaming and holding his stomach as he walked away, police prosecutor Tim Hutton told the court.

When police spoke to him later that day, Scheiwe had admitted to riding the bike, telling officers he had been “out of it” after the crash and left the scene to go to his girlfriend’s place.

Checks found the 35-yearold was disqualified from driving and a subsequent drug test proved positive for meth and cannabis, Sergeant Hutton said.

On bail for those charges, Scheiwe had been pulled over driving a Suzuki sedan on Hillside St, Newtown, about 6.08pm, November 23, the court heard.

Admitting to driving while disqualified, he tested positive for meth and cannabis again,

Sgt Hutton said.

Scheiwe pleaded guilty to all charges.

His barrister David Jones said the risk that his client faced in going to jail for these offences had at last forced him to address his drug issues and asked for a lengthy period of probation to help him with that.

Magistrate Howard Osborne

noted Scheiwe’s history of drug driving.

“Drug drivers present a significant risk to the community and it won’t be tolerated,” he said.

Mr Osborne placed Scheiwe on two years probation and disqualified him from driving for five-and-ahalf years.

peter.hardwick@thechronicle.com.au