7 days ago
Thomas Howden in Bairnsdale court for drug driving in Glenaladale
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A methed-up stock and station agent has been booted off the roads again after he was busted drug driving for the second time in three months.
Thomas Fredrick Howden, 31, faced the Bairnsdale Magistrates' Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to failing an oral fluid test and driving while his licence was suspended.
Howden was driving a Ute in Glenaladale when he was pulled over by police in December last year.
After officers discovered he was driving without a licence, he was drug tested, which returned positive for methamphetamine.
His car was impounded for 30 days.
The court heard Howden had previously been caught drug driving.
Howden told the court he had completed a behavioural change program as part of a community corrections order.
He said he was working as a stock and station agent where he sold cows and sheep and was trying to rebuild his reputation.
Magistrate Mia Stylianou asked what was going through his head at the time — to which Howden replied 'a lot of stupid things'.
'Around country roads — you've got to have your wits about you, you really do,' Ms Stylianou said.
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'Some of these roads are really tricky to navigate and if you're affected by drugs in any way — it's beyond my comprehension how anyone can get behind the wheel and thinking that they're going to drive to the best of their ability.
'There's a reason why these offences are offences.'
Howden's licence was cancelled and disqualified for a year with a conviction recorded and was fined $1200.
'Hopefully there won't be a next time,' Ms Stylianou said.
