David John Rome: Gold Coast builder narrowly avoids jail for meth, cocaine trafficking

A police search warrant at an address in Highland Park uncovered a sophisticated cannabis set-up, a court has heard, but it was when cops accessed the man’s phone they really struck pay dirt.

Highland Park man David John Rome, 43, appeared in Brisbane Supreme Court (pictured) on February 5, 2025. Picture: File

A Gold Coast builder has narrowly avoided jail after being discovered growing more than 20kg of cannabis while also simultaneously trafficking in methamphetamine.

Highland Park man David John Rome, 43, appeared in Brisbane Supreme Court on February 5 this year, where he pleaded guilty to a 10-count indictment charging him with trafficking, producing dangerous drugs, possessing a mobile phone in connection with his trafficking operation, and seven counts of supplying a dangerous drug.

According to Justice Lincoln Crowley QC, whose sentencing remarks were only made publicly available on June 16, Rome’s offending came to light when police executed a search warrant at his residence on August 14, 2023.

In a shed to the rear of the property, they discovered eight large cannabis plants and 12 seedlings contained within a “sophisticated” set-up that included “lighting, fans, water pump, irrigation, airconditioning”.

Lincoln Crowley QC after swearing-in as judge of Queensland's Supreme Court, Monday, June 13, 2022. Picture: Richard Walker

“Police needed the assistance of Energex to assist with the disconnection of the wiring because of its sophistication,” Justice Crowley said.

Alongside additional cannabis Rome, a father-of-three, had already harvested, the total weight of the drug was 20.4kg, worth between $25,600 and $40,000.

He was arrested and charged, but police returned on November 30, 2023 to execute another search warrant, during which Rome provided the passcode to his mobile phone, revealing his illicit meth and cannabis trafficking operation.

Analysis of messages on encrypted applications such as Signal, Telegram, and Threema indicated Rome had trafficked in the drugs since July 21, 2023, and had at least seven customers.

However the court heard that relatively few transactions appeared to have actually gone ahead, and it was accepted by the court Rome’s trafficking was not “proactive” – rather, he sold to a small group of associates “who knew that you had the ability to provide the drugs [and] who would contact you”.

Justice Crowley told the court Rome went on to subsequently offend after being granted bail a second time, with two appearances in the Southport Magistrates Court last November for minor drug offending, for which he received nine months’ probation, and stealing copper, for which he was fined with no convictions recorded.

Rome reoffended twice after being granted bail for trafficking in dangerous drugs. Picture: NewsWire / Richard Gosling

The court heard that at the time of Rome’s offending he had substance abuse, gambling and mental health concerns, and he was in financial strife due to a business that failed during Covid-19 and his being the victim of an assault that prevented his ability to find work.

However Justice Crowley noted Rome had been engaged in December 2024 as a builder on a “major building project” and that his family were at risk of losing their home if he were to lose that employment due to incarceration.

Rome was also engaging in rehabilitation services such as Lives Lived Well, Justice Crowley added.

He sentenced the defendant to four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of four years, and placed him on an additional three years’ probation.

Originally published as David John Rome: Gold Coast builder narrowly avoids jail for meth, cocaine trafficking