Ice accused blames dog

POLICE allegedly found $100,000 worth of the drug ice and $35,000 cash in a car that smashed into a parked vehicle this week.

The driver is disputing there were drugs in the car and says he crashed because he had swerved to miss hitting a dog.

Paul Noel Howlett claimed he would have run from the scene if he had drugs in his car.

He was denied bail when he appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with multiple offences including trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a weapon.

The court was told that about 845g of the drug ice and $35,000 cash was found in Howlett’s car after a crash in Oxenford on Wednesday morning.

It is alleged the drug would have had a street value between $100,000 and $105,000.

Howlett went on a rant during proceedings saying he stopped in Oxenford for a chicken and gravy pie.

He said when he was back on the road a dog ran out, he swerved to miss it and he hit a parked car.

“If I had drugs in the car, I would have run,” he said.

Howlett told the court he “did everything by the law”, was giving over his identification and had called a tow truck driver.

Defence lawyer Lee Quinn, of Hannay Lawyers, said there were concerns whether the search of Howlett’s car was done lawfully.

He said those concerns would need to be explored.

Mr Quinn said police had reported that Howlett appeared to be on drugs but did not do a roadside drug test.

A sample of his blood was taken.

Magistrate Kerry Magee noted Howlett was on bail for other alleged drug offences and allegedly stealing a car.

She denied bail.