A HORSHAM man who was caught driving while disqualified five times could face jail time, a magistrate says.
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Damien Couzner, 22, appeared at Horsham Magistrates' Court on April 18.
He entered a consolidated plea of guilty for seven charges, including driving under the influence of an illicit substance, driving while disqualified, refusing an oral fluid test and a family violence offence.
The court heard Couzner was a Horsham resident at the time of offending, but his licence had a Naracoorte address. It also heard that Couzner held a prohibitory licence at the time.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Matt Haughton told the court that Horsham police stopped Couzner driving on May 2, 2018. An oral fluid test returned a positive result for methamphetamine. Couzner told police he "didn't know it was still in (his) system".
The court heard police intercepted Couzner while driving on May 8, and he refused to take an oral fluid test.
Police stopped Couzner while driving on June 22. Police discovered that he was disqualified from driving due to previous offences.
They also discovered that Couzner had a licence with a South Australian address, even though he had lived in Horsham for more than three months.
Police intercepted Couzner for driving while disqualified again on July 15.
On August 17, police saw Couzner sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle on Albert Street, Horsham. The car turned a corner and police stopped the vehicle, but found that a woman was now driving the vehicle.
Couzner was in the passenger seat and told police that he had swapped because he was taking a phone call. He told police that he knew his licence was disqualified.
On October 16, police saw Couzner driving a vehicle on Dooen Road, Horsham.
Police stopped the vehicle in the Horsham Coles carpark and spoke to Couzner. He did not make admissions to police that he knew he was disqualified.
On December 12 at 9pm, Couzner was the passenger of a vehicle being driven by a Horsham woman. The court heard the pair had been in an argument before they entered the car. While the woman was driving, Couzner punched the car's LCD screen and damaged it.
At 12.30am on December 13, police arrested Couzner and took him to Horsham Police Station. He made a no comment interview and was later released on bail.
The court heard that an intervention order was put in place between Couzner and the victim following the alleged family violence offence.
Couzner's defence lawyer Jennifer McGarvie argued that her client had not committed an offence since December 2018.
Magistrate Ronald Saines said the accumulation of Couzner's offences was serious.
"The family violence matter alone is serious enough. Then to drive while disqualified on numerous occasions and drive under the influence of drugs, all together is a strong case for imprisonment. But I'm not going to make that decision today," Mr Saines said.
Couzner is not allowed to drive a vehicle as part of his bail conditions.
He will next appear at Horsham Magistrates' Court on August 6.
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