This was published 9 years ago
Former Cleveland real estate agent pleads guilty to drug driving
Former Cleveland real estate agent Ryan McCann has pleaded guilty to driving with drugs in his system.
By Stephen Jeffrey
Former Cleveland real estate agent Ryan McCann has pleaded guilty to driving with drugs in his system.
Magistrate Zac Sarra suspended the 36-year-old's licence for four months after he made the plea in Wynnum Magistrates Court on Monday.
Former Cleveland real estate agent Ryan McCann pleads guilty to driving with drugs in his system.
But other unrelated drug charges against McCann, for which he has not yet entered a plea, have been adjourned until early next year, reports the Redland City Bulletin.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Angela Tetley said the defendant, whose full name is Patrick Ryan McCann, was stopped while driving along Doig Street, Cleveland, on August 15 this year.
She said a saliva sample returned positive traces of methylamphetamine, also known as ice, the second time he was caught with drugs in his system while driving in as many years.
McCann's solicitor, Bill Potts, stressed that there was no allegation before the court that his client was driving dangerously, nor that the drugs had impaired his ability to drive.
He said police had intercepted McCann at a time when he was heavily addicted to ice, and that he had since made rehabilitative steps.
"He has battled addiction and substance abuse for the past two years," Mr Potts said.
"This is his 106th day clean (not taking the drug)."
Mr Sarra noted McCann's early guilty plea and steps to recover from addiction.
He also issued a challenge to the media, noting their interest in the case should also focus on the wider problems methylamphetamine use caused in society.
"The court's focus is not on how they (defendants) go down, but how they get up," he said.
"You made a mistake; get over it and get on with it."
He disqualified McCann from driving for four months.
McCann was arrested about a fortnight after the police intercept and charged with 34 offences, including drug trafficking, as part of a police crackdown on an alleged drug ring.
Those charges, as well as those against five of his co-accused, were adjourned to Cleveland Magistrates Court on January 5.
He remains on bail.