Brett James Kirby pleaded guilty to supplying dangerous drugs

A drug dealer and serial disqualified driver who led police on a chase through Bundaberg until they were forced to abandon it has proven himself a menace to society in more ways than one. But the law caught up with him this week:

Brett James Kirby pleaded guilty to five counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and 45 summary offences, including driving while disqualified and dangerous driving when he faced Maryborough District Court this week.

A Fraser Coast drug dealer charged with serious driving offences, including evasion and dangerous driving, has been released on parole.

Brett James Kirby, 36, pleaded guilty to five counts of supplying dangerous drugs, 45 summary offences, evading police, driving while disqualified and dangerous driving, when he faced Maryborough District Court this week.

The court heard the charges related to him offering cannabis to a person, starting at $100 for a quarter of an ounce and $250 for half an ounce.

In another instance he offered to supply methamphetamine, but the court heard the drug offending was low level and not of a commercial nature.

Judge Terry Gardiner said the summary offences were in many respects more serious.

Brett James Kirby pleaded guilty to five counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and 45 summary offences, including driving while disqualified and dangerous driving when he faced Maryborough District Court this week.

They included seven disqualified driving charges, he said.

In one instance, police tried to stop Kirby in Bundaberg as the registration did not match the vehicle, the court heard.

Kirby drove through a red light and did not stop for a marked police car, with officers following until they ended the pursuit.

The most serious offending was the dangerous operation of a vehicle: Kirby sideswiped a Toyota Rav 4 and a Mitsubishi wagon before later hitting another vehicle.

When his vehicle came to a stop, he appeared be in a “dazed state”.

He was chased down some distance from the crash site and had taken off his shirt in an attempt to change his appearance, the court heard.

When a police officer called on him to stop but he continued to move away a taser was presented.

Kirby appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicating substance, and was taken to Bundaberg Hospital, but would not supply a sample for testing.

The court was told Kirby’s parents had separated when he was young.

He had finished high school and had worked with his father as a machine operator before moving into civil construction.

He had two children from a past relationship.

After the breakdown of that relationship, he spiraled into drug use and crime, the court heard.

He was hoping to get a job in civil construction and was living with his mother.

Judge Gardiner said if Kirby thought he could be disqualified and just get behind the wheel of a vehicle to drive, he would end up spending long periods of his life in custody.

Kirby was given 12 months in prison for the dangerous operation of a vehicle charge, cumulative on other charges dealt with on Thursday.

For each of the charges of driving while disqualified, Kirby was ordered off the road for two years.

In addition, he was disqualified from driving for two years for evading police and the dangerous driving charge.

The 355 days he had spent in presentence custody was declared time served.

Kirby was immediately released on parole.