By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A drug-toking dad from Narre Warren South has been charged after his toddler was hospitalised with ‘ice’ poisoning.
The man smoked ice in a glass pipe in a bedroom at home, then watched and played with his one-year-old son in the lounge room last July, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard on 6 July.
While on the couch, the child became distressed “out of nowhere” – “crying” and “acting strange”, according to his father.
He and his parents caught a taxi to Casey Hospital, where illicit substances were detected in the boy’s blood and urine samples.
The matter was reported to Department of Human Services and to Victoria Police.
The man, who was charged with conduct endangering serious injury as well as drug possession, didn’t know how the “freakish accident” occurred.
But he admitted he was responsible for his son’s poisoning.
He guessed his son may have eaten ice that had dropped onto the father’s clothes – “or something like that”.
“I put my hand up… it’s my fault,” he told police at the time.
During a police raid of the family home, police seized substances believed to be ice, cannabis, GHB, heroin and magic mushrooms.
The man claimed two of the drugs were “fake” sold to him in “scam” drug-deals. He bought 500 mL of GHB for $500 just after being released from custody a month earlier.
Also seized was a ‘ScreenyWeeny’ urine-sample “hiding kit”, including synthetic clean urine refills, thermometer and heat-pack.
He was also charged with two counts of driving unlicensed, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving with false number plates.
During a police intercept in Noble Park in June 2020, he presented a false NSW drivers’ license but couldn’t recall the correct license details.
Police seized various suspected drugs from his unregistered car, such as 1,4-butanediol, hallucinogenic mushrooms and ice, and a “chocolate-like” substance.
The man told police that all of the suspected drugs were “chocolate”.
A defence lawyer told the court that the “ashamed” man had abstained from drugs since the offences 12 months ago.
The man had been offered employment in the Metro Tunnel Project, the lawyer said.
He was bailed for sentencing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 6 August.
