Bundaberg tradies face court for meth use

With Aussies being the most likely to use meth, tradies are especially at risk. We take a look at recent cases that have gone before the courts in Bundaberg.

While Australians are the most likely people to use meth per capita, tradies have been found to be at high risk of meth use.

That‘s according to studies including one conducted by the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction.

According to recent police data, while drug use is still high in the Bundaberg region, reported cases have decreased slightly in the past two years.

Information shows reported drug crime cases peaked at 141 in March 2021, and had dropped to 73 in September, 2022.

There have been 2177 drug offences reported in the Bundaberg electorate area since October 25, 2020.

Earlier this year, an Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report found Australians are the highest per capita users of meth, cocaine and MDMA.

Bundaberg police prosecutor Dean Burgess recently said that meth cases were going before the Bundaberg courts nearly every day.

Brodie John Fagan.

Meth driving lands tradie in court

Brodie John Fagan was busted driving down Takalvan St when he was stopped by police for a random check.

The carpenter pleaded guilty to one count of driving while a relevant drug was in his system and fined $450, referred to SPER, and disqualified from driving for three months, with a conviction recorded.

Zachary Stephen Lindsay James.

Plumber back in trouble

A plumber who failed to stay out of trouble while on probation for drug offences was given a suspended jail sentence after committing several more.

On December 3, 2021, Zachary Stephen Lindsay James was stopped by police while he was riding an electric scooter, catching him with half a gram of meth.

On February 6, 2022, James further breached his probation and was taken to Maryborough Correctional Centre after police stopped his car and found 3.05g of meth and $1350 of cash from suspected drug sales.

In total, he pleaded guilty to nine drug offences committed between October 30, 2021 and February 2, 2022, while he was on probation for drug offending in 2020.

James was granted immediate parole, sentenced to three months prison, wholly suspended and fined $500, referred to SPER.

Convictions were recorded.

David Lawrence Eather.

Farm contractor busted drug driving

A Bundaberg farm contractor David Lawrence Eather found himself before the court for driving offences, after the P-plater was caught driving on busy Quay St with meth in his system.

The court heard that Eather had been before the courts previously for a similar offence.

Eather pleaded guilty to one count of drug driving and was fined $350, referred to SPER, and disqualified from driving for three months.

A conviction was recorded.

Brendan Keith Henricksen.

Plumber‘s appointment with the law

A court has been told of the tragic impact of meth addiction after tradie Brendan Keith Henricksen found himself pleading guilty to a string of charges.

The court heard Henricksen, a qualified plumber, labourer and farm worker, had been in a vulnerable position after friends wrote off a new $40,000 vehicle he’d purchased.

That was when he started using meth.

Henricksen pleaded guilty to one count of possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, two counts of possessing utensils that had been used, one count of possessing a dangerous drugs (schedule one drug quantity of or exceeding schedule three but less than schedule four) and two counts of breaching bail.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and two months’ jail, suspended immediately with a period of six months to hang over his head.

Andrew Brian Muller outside Bundaberg Court House.

Tradie spent bonus on bumper MDMA haul

Tradesman Andrew Brian Muller pleaded guilty in the Bundaberg Supreme Court late last year to possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 2g and to possessing drug utensils.

His appearance was the result of a large haul of drugs found in his kitchen in 2020, the court heard.

Police discovered 19.965g of pure MDMA in 27.865g of substance in both rock and powder form after searching Muller’s home. The amount was close to 10 times over the scheduled amount and the purity was high.

Police also found gel capsules, measuring cups and a straw.

It was heard Muller accessed his super early, due to the pandemic, to fund the bumper drug haul.

Muller was sentenced to two and a half years’ jail for the MDMA and was convicted and not further punished for the drug utensil offence.

He was granted immediate parole.