Joe Corbett in court for drug trafficking and supplying

A court has heard how a 31-year-old ex-labourer with a history of drug offences was busted with thousands of dollars of cash in his car. This is what was said in court.

A Bundaberg man with a “concerning” drugs history told police he’d just been “helping out a few mates”, despite evidence he had hired a delivery driver for his illicit business.

Joe Corbett, 31, appeared in the dock of the Bundaberg District Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and three counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

The court heard the trafficking charge involved cannabis, while the drug supply charges comprised one incidence of supplying LSD and another two of supplying meth.

The offences were committed between January 14, 2021 and February 26, 2021.

His actions were uncovered when on March 1, 2021, police intercepted the father of five’s hire car and smelled cannabis.

They found a mobile phone, some unused clip-seal bags, some utensils, including scales and scissors, and $5430 in cash.

Corbett declined an interview and police carried out forensic analysis of his phone, which revealed he had been using Facebook Messenger and social messaging platform Tick to engage with his customer base.

While at the police station at a later date, Corbett was asked about his offending, to which he replied: “I’m going to say ‘no comment’, because all I was doing was helping a few mates out”.

Joe Corbett, 31, appeared in the dock of the Bundaberg District Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and three counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

Crown prosecutor Carla Ahern told the court Corbett had about 43 customers, and had offered to supply a further five, and that three of the people in his customer base were minors.

Police found evidence of 270 transactions on his phone and the court heard Corbett would deliver to his customers for an extra fee, even hiring a “runner” to help make deliveries.

It was heard Corbett had not long seen his previous sentence expire for similar offending when he again found himself before the courts for trafficking and supplying, and that he had also faced court numerous times for drug offending.

“His history does show that he’s continuing to possess dangerous drugs,” Ms Ahern said.

The court heard the defendant’s criminal history dated back 10 years.

Defence barrister Nick Larter told the court his client had a “pre-judicial” upbringing which included exposure to drugs at an early age and that he’d previously worked as a labourer and currently suffered from anxiety and depression.

Judge Michael Burnett told the court the defendant was last sentenced for trafficking in 2017, albeit over a more serious range of offending with trafficking cannabis.

He did not accept the defendant’s version of events that he had only been “helping” friends.

The court heard Corbett had a history of reoffending and breaching court orders.

Judge Burnett noted the defendant had no family, aside from his children, and had not gained any skills.

“You’ve learned to live by your wits, but unfortunately that’s not entirely consistent with what’s expected in a civil society,” he said.

“You have had a long-term relationship and unfortunately that relationship came to an end on your being remanded in custody on these matters.”

Judge Burnett reminded Corbett that life could be “miserable without family” and that he should focus his efforts on setting a good example as a father.

“Perhaps it doesn’t occur to you, but the reason why these drugs are illegal is because they are quite harmful,” he said.

“It may not occur to you at this time, but perhaps in a few years’ time when you get a bit older and your joints start to creak and you start to get other ailments you can reflect upon the fact that you took drugs at any early age, being a significant contributing factor to whatever later ailments you suffer.”

Taking into account an early plea of guilty, Corbett received a head sentence of three years, with 10 months’ and four days’ pre-sentence custody declared as time served.

He will be eligible for parole on December 24, 2022.