WAY CLEAR FOR IDYLLIC AUGUST Driving high on 12 drugs

DROWSY, incoherent and high on a cocktail of prescription drugs, Gold Coast father Chass Benjamin Wall got behind the wheel with his eightyear-old son in the car.

After being intercepted by police at a Pacific Pines service station in February last year, Wall, 43, was taken to Southport Watchhouse but was so drug-affected he “dozed off” in the back of the paddy wagon.

When a blood sample was taken, he returned a reading that showed 12 types of prescription drugs including diazepam, anxiety and antidepressant medications, morphine and codeine.

The Gold Coast father, who survives on a disability pension, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to failing to dispose of a used syringe and driving under the influence of drugs at Pitcairn Way on February 24, 2016.

What’s worse, the court heard Wall had been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol more than seven times before being caught driving high last year. The last time was in 2010. Yesterday he was sentenced to three months’ jail, which was suspended for two years.

The court heard police intercepted Wall’s white Kia at a Pacific Pines service station about 9am to find him “drowsy and uncoordinated in his movements”.

When police arrived, the front passenger ran away and an eight-year-old boy was in the back of the car.

Police searched the vehicle and found a used syringe, which the court heard belonged to the passenger.

Defence barrister Chris Rosser conceded Wall had a “whole load of drugs in his system” but told the court they were not of an “illicit nature” and had been prescribed weeks earlier when Wall was in hospital.

“Nonetheless it is clear he should not have been behind the wheel of a car,” Mr Rosser said.

“It’s unfortunate that he’s done this, but it’s not the same as someone deliberately going out and taking MDMA and driving.”

In sentencing, Magistrate Andrew Sinclair told Mr Rosser that Wall’s plea of guilty could not be considered an early plea given he was expected to face trial yesterday.

“You have had six opportunities (before today) to plead guilty,” he said.

Mr Sinclair said driving under the influence of prescription drugs was no better than any other type of drug driving.

“It doesn’t matter if the drugs are not illegal … it’s the choice to drive on the road that presents the danger to the public,” he said.

“You clearly are a danger to yourself and other people when you drive with a cocktail of drugs in your system. I don’t consider it safe for you to drive.”

Mr Sinclair also disqualified Wall from driving for three years and fined him $250 for failing to dispose of the needle.

Convictions were recorded.

YOU CLEARLY ARE A DANGER TO YOURSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE WHEN YOU DRIVE WITH A COCKTAIL OF DRUGS IN YOUR SYSTEM. — MAGISTRATE ANDREW SINCLAIR