Bundaberg dad Michael John Jensen jailed for trafficking meth, marijuana
A single dad raising his son solo since he was an 18-month-old has been jailed after he was caught peddling drugs.
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A single dad raising his son solo since he was an 18-month-old has been jailed after he was caught peddling drugs.
Michael John Jensen, 35, was busted with 10.8 grams of pure tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 3.352 grams of pure methamphetamines when police searched his Thabeban residences on July 7, 2023, as part of a drug operation in Bundaberg, the Supreme Court in Rockhampton heard.
Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said Jensen carried out a street level trafficking operation between October 1, 2021 and July 7, 2023.
She said his offending breached three suspended sentences and he was on parole at the time.
Justice Graeme Crow said the evidence before the court showed Jensen used “a little boy he is related to peddle drugs” while Jensen had under 10 regular customers.
The “little boy” Justice Crow referred to was not Jensen’s son.
Police seized two phones during the search on July 7, 2023, which revealed some of the trafficking details including supplying marijuana to customers interstate via Australia Post with one supply being for 141.748 grams for $1450 and he purchased 4.5kg for $45,000 from a supplier identified as TikTok in a group chat.
Justice Crow said Jensen complained about the mango strain from the last supply in the same conversation as the $45k deal.
“It shocks and saddens me deeply that you were dealing drugs while caring for your son,” Justice Crow said.
Jensen’s criminal record shows he first started appearing in court for drug offences in 2008 and continued with many convictions for drugs - marijuana, MDMA and meth - attracting fines, probation and suspended prison terms with two two-to-three year breaks from offending prior to his trafficking offending being detected.
“You’ve got a troubling history of drugs,” Justice Crow said.
He said Jensen had been given chance after chance by the courts to stay in the community and care for his son.
“You are the author of your own miserable situation… making you the author of your son’s miserable situation (which) is something far, far worse.”
Defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said Jensen was supported by his parents, who have cared for his son while Jensen has been incarcerated, and his sister.
Justice Crow said one of the three suspended sentences was still current.
He ordered a seven month prison term for stalking be activated and serve concurrent with this latest sentence.
Jensen pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, possessing more than two grams of a schedule one drug and possession of a dangerous drug.
Justice Crow sentenced Jensen to five years prison, declared 391 days presentence custody as time served and set parole eligibility for November 6, 2024.
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