A drug-affected Mayfield man who went to pick up his friend from darts at a time when he was a disqualified driver was jailed in the Launceston Magistrates Court for a month.
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Leigh Prior, 41, pleaded guilty to four counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of driving with drugs in his system, selling, using and possessing a controlled plant.
Magistrate Ken Stanton activated a previously imposed one-month suspended sentence.
He imposed a further three months sentence which was suspended for 18 months on the condition that Prior commit no imprisonable offence. He also imposed a 12-month Community Correction Order.
Police prosecutor Jarrod Lightfoot told the court that on one occasion Prior had a person on the tray of his utility.
"Driving with passengers in the rear of the utility carries with it extreme risk," Mr Stanton said.
Mr Stanton said it was abundantly clear that Prior defied the previous court orders disqualifying him from driving and went about his life as he pleased.
"On one occasion you picked up the children from school and on another a friend from darts," he said.
Duty solicitor Lucy Flanagan said it was accepted that Prior's acts of driving were blatant.
She said he had a longstanding issue with the use of cannabis.
She said the recent death of a 17-year-old family friend had made him realise he could not keep living the way he was.
She said he had put himself in a situation where he had no access to a vehicle and had completely ceased smoking cannabis except for a very small amount five to six days ago.
She said she was instructed to make a submission that the activation of the suspended sentence would be unjust.
"In what way?" Mr Stanton asked.
"Because rehabilitation is finally occurring," Ms Flanagan said.
Mr Stanton said his steps to give up drug use came too late.
"That is not the sort of rehabilitation that tips the balance in favour of it being unjust to activate the suspended sentence," he said.
She said Prior would like to be considered for a home detention order-a request rejected by Mr Stanton.
He said Prior's selling of cannabis to other people perpetuated the social evil of drug use.
Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
