A new Katherine youth outreach worker has admitted taking drugs

A Territory Families spokeswoman this afternoon said the youth worker had been advised “the CEO of Territory Families intends to terminate his employment immediately”.

Clint Buckland, 38, of Katherine pleaded guilty to having driven a car while under the influence of amphetamines and methamphetamine.

He was fined a total of $1150 on a variety of charges, including breaching a previous good behaviour bond, but was allowed to keep his driver’s licence.

Buckland’s defence counsel said his licence was vital so he could keep his new job as one of the NT Government’s youth outreach workers.

But Territory Families acted this afternoon to sack Buckland.

“We have offered the person support, and believe that everybody deserves a second chance,” the government spokeswoman said.

“However this person was employed in a position that requires the highest standards of behaviour which, regrettably, have not been met in this instance.

“We are conscious of the impact this may have on this persons circumstances and sincerely hope that he is able to overcome his personal difficulties and find a path to a positive future,” the spokeswoman said.

Buckland, a former NT prisons correctional officer, teacher’s assistant and youth worker, was one of five new officers who came to Katherine last month.

The youth outreach worker program was introduced by the NT Labor Government to work with “disengaged and at risk youth”.

Police said in evidence today they questioned whether Buckland was an appropriate person to employ in such a program given his drug-taking admission.

Police say Buckland was stopped by police driving a vehicle on the Victoria Highway at 5.50am on March 17 for a random breath test.

Instead a roadside drug test detected traces of amphetamine and methamphetamine and he was taken back to Katherine Police Station for another saliva test which confirmed the earlier result.

“He said he was driving to a friend’s place,” police said.

“He said he had made a stupid mistake.”

Prior convictions were admitted but not read to the court but the court was told he had breached a 12 month good behaviour bond on an unrelated matter.

He was later fined $300 for the breach.

Buckland told police had taken the drugs 18 hours before he had been apprehended.

The court was told Buckland’s job relied on on him keeping his driving licence.

Buckland was also a well regarded rugby league player, the court was told.

His driving did not come to the notice of police through speeding or erratic behaviour but it had been a random stop, the court was also told.

“He has taken complete responsibility for what has happened” and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, his counsel said.

Police said Buckland’s driving had placed members of the public at risk.

The court was told Buckland had completed a stringent vetting process to obtain his youth outreach job with the government.

Judge Greg Smith said Buckland had let himself and his community down and his behaviour had been unacceptable.

He fined Buckland $700 for the driving under the influence of drugs with a $150 levy imposed and $300 for the breach of the bond.