Meth mum off road
A NORTH Queensland mum will be back on the roads in just a matter of months after she was caught behind the wheel with drugs in her system for the fourth time.
Leah Elizabeth Duell, from Ayr, faced the Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday where she pleaded guilty to two drug driving offences.
The mother of three was caught driving with meth in her system after she was pulled over on March 5 and November 15 last year.
Police prosecutor Anita Page said Duell was stopped in Cox St about 1.40pm on Tuesday, March 5 where her saliva was tested, and returned a positive result to meth.
Ms Page said police were dispatched to Queen St in Ayr just before 7.30pm on November 15 and intercepted Duell’s car for an RBT and licence check.
“Methylamphetamine present,” Ms Page said.
Ms Page submitted to the court that Duell’s two prior convictions should increase the severity of any punishment.
Andrew Peel, of Purcell was
Taylor Lawyers, said his client turned to drugs as a result of violent relationships.
Mr Peel said Duell worked three jobs to support her family and had not had a licence since it was suspended in November.
“Her difficulty is not that she drives under the influence of the drug but instead consumes it and within days later is required to drive and gets pulled over,” he said.
“She is subject to the drug testing and she fails it because it is still present in her saliva.”
Mr Peel said his client faced a string of additional drug charges, which would likely be indicted to the Supreme Court.
Magistrate Cathy Wadley said Duell’s manner of driving was not alleged to have posed a risk to road users, but that her history was “aggravated”.
In sentencing, Magistrate Wadley said she took into account the woman’s personal circumstances and early plea of guilty.
She disqualified Duell from driving for the mandatory minimum period of six months and fined her $1600.
Convictions were recorded.