Meth driver fined $350

A SELF-CONFESSED methamphetamine user has appeared in court for drugdriving and supplying a dangerous drug.

Harley Wayne Nicolson, 28, was convicted of three counts of supplying a dangerous drug, and one each of drug driving and possessing an item used in the commission of a crime.

Police executed a search warrant on a property where Nicolson was staying on November 24 last year.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Amanda Lawson said officers seized an Apple iphone during the search, and an analysis was done of the phone which identified a number of messages relating to the supply of drugs on November 3, 2019.

She said there was a series of messages between Nicolson and male contact who asked about a 50, which she said was a reference to $50 of marijuana. Sgt Lawson said the messages led to an agreement to supply $100 of marijuana to the male contact.

In a separate exchange of message, a female contact told Nicolson she was chasing some “green” and a “stick”, referring to a gram of marijuana.

Sgt Lawson said the messages indicated the female contact requested Nicholson source some marijuana and he later confirmed he had the drugs.

She said on December 5, Nicolson was pulled over by police performing mobile patrols in Holliman St for a random breath and saliva test.

“He made full admissions to taking an illegal drug prior to being intercepted by police,” Sgt Lawson said.

She said Nicolson told police he was on his way to pick up his girlfriend and he tested positive for methamphetamine.

Defence solicitor Mikayla Ward said Nicolson was now clean from drugs due to some work he had been doing at a mine, where he was required to be drug free.

She said Nicolson would suffer hardship as a result of any sentence because he would lose his licence and that meant he would not be able to travel for his work as a fencer.

Magistrate Cathy Wadley told Nicolson she would take into account that he had no drug charges on his criminal history. For the drug-driving offence he was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month. For the drug related matters, Nicolson was fined $500, with no convictions recorded. Magistrate Wadley also ordered the phone be destroyed.