Drug user’s last chance
A NORTH Queensland businessman with a penchant for pot and a proclivity for ice has again appeared in court on drug-related charges.
Peter George Tonon, approaching 60 years of age, admitted in the Ingham Magistrates Court to possession of both cannabis and methamphetamine in Ingham on June 16.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Erin Collis said the defendant was stopped in a random traffic intercept at 4pm, with officers noticing a strong smell of cannabis emanating from the inside of his vehicle.
She said a search of the vehicle discovered .655g of ice in a clipsealed bag in Tonon’s wallet and 7g of fresh cannabis.
Defence lawyer Darren Robinson said the facts of the case and the criminal history of his client – a married father of two and owner of an excavation business – spoke for themselves.
Mr Robinson urged a fine and a conviction, adding that his client understood “the gravity of the offence”.
Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton said Tonon had a history under the Drugs Misuse Act, including “matters dealt with in higher courts for much more serious offences in 2016”.
He said that since that time, the defendant had been dealt with on another three occasions, including earlier this year.
Mr Luxton said that although a fine was appropriate in the current matter before the court, any future charges under the Drugs Misuse Act had progressed beyond a community-based order.
“You’ve gone beyond that given your age and prior entries under the Drugs Misuse Act,” Mr Luxton said.
“If the behaviour continues then
I’ll have no option other than to impose an order for imprisonment, I just need to make that very clear to you.”
Tonon was convicted and fined $1200.
JESSE KIDSON
Jesse Wayne Kidson pleaded guilty to drug-driving and possession of a water bong after he was stopped and searched by Ingham Police on Mcilwraith St at 5.50pm on June 11.
Senior Constable Collis said Kidson tested positive for the presence of cannabis and also had a prior drug-driving conviction from July, 2019.
The defendant was convicted of
drug-driving, fined $750 and disqualified from driving for two months.
On the charge of possession of a bong, was fined $300 but no conviction was recorded.