However, because the man - who lives in Orange - did not specify if he had been a close-contact of someone with COVID or if he had visited a hotspot, he was convicted in his absence.

Robert William Cashel, 47, of Frost Street, had been stopped by police in the early hours of January 30 for a random roadside drug test which subsequently proved positive to methylamphetamine.

When Cashel failed to appear for the matter's listing last week - it was the second time he had done so.

Magistrate David Day did not take kindly to this, nor to the fact that the Orange man did not tell the court why he needed to self-isolate.

"His general record is equally unhelpful," Mr Day noted.

"[He has a] history of dishonesty [and] a history of drug possession and drug use. In more recent times, [he has a] history of violence. He should be and is convicted."

In addition, Cashel was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $660.

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