A DRIVER pulled over between Bathurst and Kelso for a random breath test was found to be disqualified until 2028, police say.
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When he was asked to produce his licence, he said he didn't have one and that "I'll be coming with you when you see who I am", according to the police documents for the matter.
Blake John Pearce, 23, of Carrington Avenue, Oberon, was in Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 to answer charges of driving with an illicit drug in his blood (second-plus offence) and driving while disqualified (second-plus offence).
Police documents before the court said Pearce was driving a Ford Focus west on Lions Club Drive, Kelso at about 10.30am on Thursday, September 5, 2024 when he was pulled over for a random test.
After he said he didn't have a licence, police checks showed that he had been convicted of no fewer than five major traffic offences in the previous two years, according to the police documents.
The most recent was a conviction in Oberon Local Court for driving while disqualified (subsequent offence) and low/novice/special range and illicit drug, where Pearce was disqualified until September 2028.
A breath test was negative, but an oral fluid test was positive to cannabis, according to the police documents.
Pearce was arrested for the purpose of supplying an oral fluid sample, which was positive to cannabis.
In relation to taking drugs, Pearce said he had some pot about a week ago, according to the police documents.
The remainder of the sample was sent to the NSW Forensic and Analytical Science Service at Lidcombe and came back positive to cannabis.
In court
Pearce was represented in court by solicitor James Taylor, who confirmed that Magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith had a Sentencing Assessment Report.
He said Ms Slack-Smith should also have doctor's certificates which were relevant to Pearce's non-attendance at different times with Community Corrections.
Mr Taylor said his client had experienced "very significant problems with his teeth".
When Ms Slack-Smith said the Sentencing Assessment Report indicated Pearce had a limited insight into his offending behaviour, Mr Taylor said things are sometimes taken out of context and people don't understand what they are being asked.
Mr Taylor said the report indicated Pearce had not completed the community service he had previously been set, but he said his client had completed 36 hours and now had two hours to do.
"It says he has missed 13 days," Ms Slack-Smith said.
"He has still done 36 hours," Mr Taylor said.
For a long period of time, Mr Taylor said his client had a "fairly serious" addiction to a number of drugs, as shown by his criminal history.
Mr Taylor said his instructions from his client were that Pearce had stopped doing all drugs apart from cannabis after being in custody.
Since his last offence, Pearce had also stopped doing cannabis, Mr Taylor said.
Mr Taylor said his client had a job ready to start out of town.
"How is he going to get to work every day?" Ms Slack-Smith asked.
"Good point, Your Honour," Mr Taylor said. "I can only assume with the assistance of his family, partner."
Mr Taylor said Pearce was on an Intensive Correction Order (a custodial sentence of up two years that the court decides can be served in the community) and Community Correction Order (used for crimes that do not warrant imprisonment or an Intensive Correction Order, but which are too serious to be dealt with by a fine or lower level penalty) at the time that he was pulled over in Kelso, but neither order was for a similar offence to the ones before the court.
Ms Slack-Smith said she had noted that Pearce had completed the Traffic Offenders Program, that he had previous driving while disqualified matters on his record and that he had pleaded guilty to the matters before the court at the first available opportunity.
She said the Sentencing Assessment Report, which said he had shown little insight into his offending behaviour, was not positive for him.
"Mr Pearce, if you continue to offend, you are going to continue to come back before the court," she said.
"You have been back before this court on a number of occasions."
For driving while disqualified, Ms Slack-Smith convicted Pearce, fined him $800 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months, from January 22, 2025 to January 21, 2026.
For driving with an illicit drug in his blood, Ms Slack-Smith convicted Pearce, fined him $500 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months, from January 22, 2025 to January 21, 2026.
