A drug-driver who crashed into another car in Delacombe says he is likely to use cannabis when released from prison and he did not believe his driving caused the collision.
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Devan O'Keeffe, 46, made the remarks while Corrections Victoria were assessing him for a community corrections order. They were included in a report provided to the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said he was concerned about O'Keeffe's comments.
"If you continue to use cannabis the chances of you getting into trouble again is almost a certainty. Most concerning is you didn't believe you caused this accident as a result of your driving," Mr Klestadt said.
O'Keeffe pleaded guilty to careless driving, driving while suspended, drug-driving and breaching an interlock device condition.
The Sebastopol man collided with a black Holden sedan on Greenhalghs Road in Delacombe about 6pm on August 30, 2019, after he failed to give way when turning.
O'Keeffe tried to make a right hand turn onto Jordan Avenue without slowing down and collided with the other car.
The crash caused significant damage to both cars and they had to be towed from the scene.
An oral fluid test showed there were illicit drugs in O'Keefe's system, while his licence was suspended and he did not have an interlock device in the car as required.
O'Keeffe told police he had smoked cannabis within two hours of driving and he was driving to his place 'around the corner'.
The magistrate told O'Keeffe he had a bad driving history which included four or five driving while disqualified offences.
O'Keeffe cried during the sentencing hearing.
He was sentenced to one month in jail followed by a community corrections order upon his release. He has already spent three nights in custody which will count towards his sentence.
His driver's licence was disqualified for 12 months.
O'Keeffe's community corrections order includes assessment and treatment for drug abuse and mental health issues, and programs to reduce re-offending.
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