A convicted home invader caught with the drug ice says it's the only thing that stops him from fainting.
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Terrence Codling, 60, of Hopetoun Road, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to possessing methamphetamine and failing to answer bail.
He was arrested on November 14 after police located a small bag containing 0.38 grams of ice in his hand.
He was intercepted walking on Warrnambool's Menzies Street about 3.10pm. Police observed something in his left hand and he was subsequently searched.
Codling was interviewed, charged and bailed to appear in court at a later date. But he failed to appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
On Monday he told the court the drugs were for personal use.
He said he used methamphetamine as it was "the only thing that stops me from fainting".
Magistrate John Lesser said the statement had no medical validity.
"Illicit drugs are not the way forward," he said.
Codling appeared in court in September over a home invasion in Warrnambool's Kimberly Road. On that occasion his lawyer told the court he suffered from black outs.
Mr Lesser convicted and fined Codling $400.
Meanwhile, a former Mortlake dairy farmer caught with more than one gram of methampethamine says he turned to drugs after a frightening home invasion.
Nathan Chatfield, 28, of Pound Lane, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to aswer bail and possessing methamphetamine.
He was arrested on July 24 after police intercepted a silver Holden sedan on Warrnambool's Garden Street about 11.40am.
Chatfield was the front passenger of the vehicle. A search revealed 0.52 grams of ice in his wallet.
He was conveyed to the police station and a further search located about half a gram in his pocket.
Chatfield said drugs had been an ongoing feature since his relatives invaded his home with an axe.
Magistrate John Lesser said there were alternative ways to deal with stress.
"Most importantly, keep away from the drugs," he said.
Chatfield was convicted and fined $500.
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