Dial-a-drug busted

A WENDOUREE truck driver would make a telephone call to ask for pizza when he wanted to get hold of amphetamines, a court was told yesterday. Shane Yates, 43, was detected buying drugs through a telephone intercept during a police investigation into Don Ciccio's Pizza and Pasta. The 12-month police investigation into the restaurant led to co-owner Tony Bazzano being charged with drug trafficking and sentenced to two years jail in May this year.Ballarat Magistrates Court heard Yates made a call on February 17 asking to pick up a pizza and arranging a time and place to meet. Yates then met with Bazzano outside the pizza restaurant and gave him money. He was later intercepted by police and found in possession of half a gram of amphetamines and a container of tobacco and cannabis mixed together. More cannabis was also discovered at Yate's Wendouree home. Yates told police he used amphetamines to stay awake when he got tired driving and smoked cannabis to help him relax.Defence lawyer David Tamanika told the court Yates had been working 120-hour weeks as an interstate truck driver.He said Yates had since cut his hours and no longer drove interstate. "It (cannabis) is not something he describes as a habit," Mr Tamanika said. Yates yesterday pleaded guilty to possession and use of cannabis and amphetamines.Magistrate Kay Robertson told Yates that truck drivers full of amphetamines were a danger to road users. Yates was yesterday convicted and fined $800.