Munchies land repeat drug-driver before court in Ingham
A RECIDIVIST Hinchinbrook criminal with a history of offences spanning three decades has made yet another appearance in the Ingham Magistrates Court on drug and drug-driving charges.
Trebonne man Gary Craig Ford, 56, appearing on Thursday, admitted to a total of seven charges, including drug driving under the influence of both ice and marijuana on a probationary licence on his way to buy a pizza in Ingham, and possessing marijuana and a pipe on February 16.
The remaining charges, the result of a police raid executed by Ingham Police on February 19, were possessing marijuana, three pipes, and steroids and a hypodermic syringe for his pighunting dog.
During an almost 30-minute plea, Magistrate Steven Mosch noted Ford had a “shocking history of drug-related offences”.
Defence attorney Michael Hibble, of Keir Steele Waldon Lawyers, did not disagree, saying that although his client had a bad history, the latest charges did not represent a significant amount of dangerous drugs.
“This is how silly my client is, getting pizza while stoned … they (Ingham Police) then get a search warrant, he doesn’t bother cleaning up his house and surprise, surprise they find what is clearly consistent with a man, given his criminal history, who has a drug habit, which he continues to come to the attention of police, relatively regularly.”
Mr Hibble urged a fine be imposed on the drug charges, with Mr Mosch expressing reservations.
Mr Hibble then informed the court his client had been busted for alleged drink-driving the previous Saturday, on August 1.
Mr Mosch said fines were not working as a personal deterrent, asking how much debt Ford had racked up on SPER.
“$5000 to $7000,” Ford replied, “But I’m making payments.”
Mr Hibble said a community-based sentence was not appropriate, suggesting a short term of imprisonment, wholly suspended.
Mr Mosch said Ford “needs to wake up to himself”.
“You can take a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink,” Mr Hibble replied.
“No, but I can take him to the verge of imprisonment and he’s going to take himself there.”
Ford was jailed for a total of one month, suspended for six months, and is due back in court on the charge of drugdriving on October 15.