A man charged with driving while disqualified until 2023 - who also tested positive to drugs when he was stopped by police - was jailed when the matters were brought before Mudgee Local Court last week.
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Eric James Forrest of Denison Street, Mudgee, was sentenced to seven months imprisonment with a non-parole period of four months, and disqualified for a further 12 months.
Police stopped the 29-year-old for random breath and drug testing in Short Street, Mudgee at about 10pm on Saturday, August 17, 2019.
He was unable to hand over his licence when requested and admitted that he didn't have one. A check by officers found that Forrest had been declared a habitual offender and was disqualified until March 2023.
Read more in court and crime
The roadside breath test was negative for alcohol, however the oral fluid sample detected methamphetamine. He was taken to Mudgee Police Station where a second sample was positive to the drug, along with cannabis, which was confirmed following laboratory analysis.
Forrest admitted to using the drugs throughout the day prior to being stopped.
On Wednesday, January 8, 2020, he was sentenced for charges of 'Drive vehicle, illicit drug present in blood etc' and 'Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period'.
The defendant appeared in court via Audio Visual Link from prison where he is serving a sentence for an unrelated matter.
