Matt Holford, 29, was driving his ute at about 10:30 p.m. in Mt Druitt in Sydney’s west when he failed to stop after a collision at the intersection of Duke Street and Luxford Road.
During Holford’s arrest, police officers noticed two small girls — aged five and seven — unrestrained in the back seat of the car in a distressed state. The two girls were found without injuries and the incident has been reported to Family and Community Services (FACS), according to police.
The 29-year-old was taken to Mt Druitt Hospital for mandatory drug testing where his results are pending. He was then taken into custody at the police station.
This was Holford’s second encounter with police that day. Earlier, he was on travelling on the New England Highway at Liddell in the Hunter Valley at around 11.50 a.m. when he was stopped by police.
After a positive roadside drug test, Holford was arrested and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station. A secondary test was conducted which also returned a positive result and was sent for further analysis, according to police.
He was subsequently issued with a suspension notice prohibiting him from driving for 24 hours and then left the station in a taxi, according to police.
However, police allege the 29-year-old failed to comply with the prohibition when he took his ute and drove to Sydney while allegedly high on drugs.
He was charged with driving recklessly and negligently, and for failure to comply with a prohibition.
Holford was refused bail after appearing at Parramatta Bail Court on March 4.
The two young girls are now with family, while their father remains in jail, reported 7News.
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