Miner who handles explosives found with 3.1 grams of methamphetamine
A Central Queensland miner, who works with explosives, was found with a stash of methamphetamine in his car after a ‘boy’s trip’.
Police & Courts
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A Central Queensland miner who works with explosives was found with a stash of methamphetamine in his car after a “boy’s trip to smoke gear” in Rockhampton.
Benjamin Christo Eaton, 36, pleaded guilty to two dangerous drug related offences in Blackwater Magistrates Court on February 10, 2023.
Eaton was charged with one count of possessing dangerous drugs schedule one drug quantity of or exceeding schedule three but less than schedule four, and one count of possess utensils or pipes etc that had been used.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Rachel Todd said the offences took place on October 12, 2022 about 9.45pm when police in Allenstown, Rockhampton pulled Eaton over for a licence check.
Eaton declared to police he had a pipe in the centre console of the car.
When police searched the boot of the car they found another pipe and methamphetamine weighing 3.1 grams.
Eaton told police he had used the pipe over the weekend in what he described as ‘a boys trip to smoke gear’ - further explaining ‘gear’ meant meth.
Duty lawyer Charles Lumsden, representing Eaton, argued that because he worked in the mining industry as a shotfirer and operator that a conviction should not be recorded.
The court heard Eaton had four children aged between 17 and four years to two different partners in Lismore and the Gold Coast.
Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert said it was a shame Eaton didn’t think about the consequences of his actions before he went away on the boys weekend.
“As a 36 year old, Mr Eaton, one might have thought that the value you place on your job might be something that might have been in the forefront of your mind prior to you embarking on the drug use,” Ms Gilbert said.
Eaton was convicted and fined $900 and a conviction was not recorded. The drug items were forfeited for destruction.
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