When city police officers checked a vehicle in the parking lot of an east-end convenience store in March 2023, they found Daniel Lepage in the driver's seat.
He was slumped over the steering wheel of the 2008 black Hyundai, which was running, outside a Wellington Street East Circle K store.
There was mucus coming from his nose, and drug paraphernalia in the driver's door, a judge heard Wednesday.
Lepage had "very slurred speech, poor balance and had difficulty standing up and making sense," prosecutor Robert Skeggs said.
"He was impaired and under the influence of drugs," the Crown told Ontario Court Justice Richard Schneider.
Lepage, 36, pleaded guilty to impaired driving in connection with the March 21, 2023 incident.
He also was convicted of two counts of failing to attend court – on July 24, 2023 and Dec. 2, 2024.
Describing the accused's criminal record "as somewhat abhorrent," Skeggs said he has "43 prior convictions."
This is Lepage's first driving conviction, he noted, pointing out he has other matters before the court that have been adjourned to a later date.
The lawyers jointly called for a $1,000 fine and one-year driving prohibition for the impaired offence, as well as $250 monetary penalties for each of the missed court dates.
Defence lawyer Naomi Sayers said her client is a First Nation member but is waiving preparation of a Gladue report.
When Lepage was young he began hanging out with a group of people that were involved in drug use, she told the court.
The judge asked Lepage if he wanted to say anything, he responded with: "I don't want to speak."
Schneider imposed the 12-month driving ban and gave him six months to pay of the fines.