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Australian actor Vince Colosimo has been warned he faces jail time if he breaks the law again, after a magistrate fined him for driving while on the drug ice.
- Colosimo initially denied taking the drug and driving on a suspended licence
- But he later admitted to the offences in court
- The actor was fined $3,500 and banned from driving for five months
Colosimo, 50, had a suspended licence when he was caught behind the wheel in Melbourne's CBD.
The Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard police who stopped Colosimo's car, on Exhibition Street, discovered he had methylamphetamine in his system.
When questioned by police, Colosimo denied taking the drug and claimed he was unaware of the six-month licence suspension, the court heard.
"He said, 'Sorry, I didn't believe it was suspended'," the court was told.
Colosimo later admitted to the offences in court.
Magistrate David Starvaggi said not driving while on drugs was something even a kindergarten child would understand.
"You really are risking a jail term if you ever come back to court," Mr Starvaggi said.
He said it was the third time Colosimo had been caught driving while his licence was suspended.
The actor was fined $3,500 and banned from driving for five months. A conviction was recorded.
Defence lawyer Tara Hartnett said the media attention surrounding the case was a "cause of great anxiety" to her client and his family.
"This is a matter that has attracted, somewhat strangely, disproportionately significant media attention," she said.
But Mr Starvaggi said "we're in the public domain" and, rightly or wrongly, that resulted in public interest in the case.
Colosimo is known for stage and screen roles including in Underbelly and The Wog Boy.
He kept his head down and did not answer questions as he left court.
Topics: courts-and-trials, crime, law-crime-and-justice, community-and-society, drugs-and-substance-abuse, arts-and-entertainment, melbourne-3000, vic
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