Brad Andrew Sharp in court for possessing restricted drugs

The former director of pharmacy at a major regional Queensland hospital has been convicted of more than a dozen offences involving drugs, including driving under the influence of drugs.

Brad Andrew Sharp rose to a respected level in his community despite a lifetime of drug addiction.

A former director of pharmacy at the Bundaberg Hospital has pleaded guilty to drug driving and unlawful possession of dangerous drugs.

Brad Andrew Sharp pleaded guilty on Tuesday to more than a dozen charges, including seven counts of possessing restricted drugs, dangerous drugs, explosives, utensils and driving under the influence of drugs.

Revealed: Wide Bay Burnett’s safest, most dangerous suburbs

The 42-year-old appeared in custody at Bundaberg Magistrate’s Court for what magistrate Edwina Rowan called a “complicated sentence”.

Police attended Sharp’s Bargara home on December 9, 2020 on a search warrant where they found a range of drugs, many of which appeared in blister packs or in containers labelled with prescriptions attached.

‘I did it’: Childcare worker admits to creepy acts against child

Sharp told the court he had kept the medication in his possession as part of his role as a pharmacists and had intended to use the medication for “teaching purposes”.

Police prosecutor Andrew Powis told the court Sharp had expressed disappointment at a number of the drugs found by police, as he was sure he had “discarded” them earlier.

The court heard the driving under the influence of a relevant drug offence occurred on April 30, 2021 when Sharp was pulled over by police.

The court heard he was submitted to a roadside drug test which produced a positive result, and Sharp declared to police he had a glass pipe in the car which he had used to smoke meth that day.

A police search also revealed two glass pipes and a set of digital scales which Sharp told police he used to measure the meth because he “didn’t trust anyone else”.

The court heard Sharp was again stopped by police on May 5, 2021 and a police search of his car revealed a black container with three glass pipes, discoloured consistent with meth use.

Glass bottles were also found in the car with rubber piping. Sharp denied having used these utensils but admitted to using the discoloured pipes to smoke meth, the court heard.

During their search, police also discovered two fireworks in a nook in front of the gear stick.

Sharp told the court he had been a respected pharmacists for 15 years, having risen to the position of Director of Pharmacy at the Bundaberg Hospital where he served for five years.

He told the court he had spent 25 years of his adult life fighting an ice addition which had escalated through the recent suicide of his younger brother.

Brad Andrew Sharp represented himself from custody.

The court heard Sharp had made efforts to kerb his addiction, and had self admitted to a private rehabilitation facility before his arrest.

Mrs Rowan considered Sharp’s past and acknowledged he had held a “responsible position” within the community, had been candid with the court and was making efforts to rid himself of his addiction.

Sharp was convicted on all charges and fined $400 for possessing a utensil referred to SPER and forfeiture was sought.

He was fined $350 for driving under the influence and disqualified from driving for one month.

Sharp was also fined $100 for the second utensil charge, referred to SPER.

He was not further punished on the possession of restricted drug charges, and forfeiture was sought, and this sentence was handed down for all remaining charges.