18 Gladstone region drug offenders who faced court
From young mothers to grandmothers, car searches to house raids, these are some of the Gladstone region drug busts that have landed people in court recently.
Police & Courts
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Judge Craig Chowdhury probably summed it up best when he said in the District Court at Gladstone earlier this year: “In this day and age, it causes untold misery in our society. It just wrecks people’s lives.”
He was referring to the drug methamphetamine, as he sentenced a young mother who was exposed as a drug dealer (story below).
Both meth and cannabis continue to land people in Gladstone courts on a regular basis, with Queensland Police Service data revealing a staggering 392 drug offences have been recorded in the Gladstone LGA in just the past six months.
Here are some of the cases that have been dealt with by magistrates and judges so far this year:
Clinton Earle Jones, 36
The concreter was caught with 2.5g of cannabis in his pocket after police intercepted him riding a bicycle in Gladstone, about 4.30am on April 22.
Jones pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 16 to possessing dangerous drugs.
The court heard that Jones had a five-page criminal history which included drug offending.
Solicitor Bianca Wieland said Jones was a father who worked as a concreter and he was remorseful for his actions.
Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Jones $1000 and a conviction was recorded.
Kayla Ann Somerfield, 31
Somerfield was caught with 5.1g of cannabis, cannabis seeds, and a glass pipe after police executed a search warrant at her Toolooa residence on February 27.
Somerfield pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 2 to possessing dangerous drugs and a drug utensil.
The court heard Somerfield had a three-page criminal history which contained no prior offending of this sort.
A self-represented Somerfield told Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan that she planned to relocate back to Brisbane to get her life “back on track.”
Somerfield was fined $500 and a conviction was recorded.
Cherylanne Audry Lennon, 47
Lennon was caught with a small amount of methamphetamine when police intercepted her at Toolooa on May 18 and searched her car.
Lennon pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on June 12 to one count of possessing dangerous drugs.
The court heard police found meth in a clip-seal bag in Lennon’s backpack, and also in a clip-seal bag in her wallet - the total amount of the drug being less than .5g.
The court was told that Lennon had a three-page criminal history with a “large number” of drug offences on it including numerous counts of drug possession.
Lennon was fined $400 and a conviction was recorded.
Shane John Tickner, 43
Police found Tickner with a glass pipe he used to smoke cannabis when they attended his Tannum Sands unit on December 9 last year in relation to another matter.
Tickner pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on June 12 to possessing a drug utensil.
The court heard Tickner had a three-page criminal history which included previous drug offending.
Solicitor Jun Pepito said Tickner was now on medicinal marijuana.
Tickner was fined $200 and a conviction was recorded.
Noeline Joyce McKinley, 50
McKinley pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 31 to possessing marijuana and public nuisance.
The court heard McKinley’s offending happened in Rockhampton on April 9 and police found her in possession of 2g of marijuana.
Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined McKinley $850 and convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Jamie Roy White, 30
The Gladstone father with a criminal history “littered with drug offences” narrowly avoided being sent back to jail after committing more drug crimes.
White pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 31 to five drug-related charges including possessing methamphetamine and cannabis, as well as possessing a knife in public.
In relation to the drug possession charges, the court heard White was pulled over for a RBT at Calliope on April 4 and during a search, police found .7g of meth in his wallet.
Then on April 13 at South Gladstone, police intercepted White again and this time they found him with 22g of cannabis and a large hunting knife in a backpack.
Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted a jail sentence could be imposed in this matter but she ultimately decided to place White on two years’ probation with conditions, and convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Marion Lee Kay, 24
The mother and former receptionist faced court in May for drug offences and theft from a Gladstone Bunnings store.
Kay pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 8 to possessing cannabis, methamphetamines and drug utensils, as well as stealing.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins said on January 2, police intercepted a vehicle at Gladstone and conducted a search.
Sgt Hoskins said Kay was a passenger and she was found in possession of a clip-seal bag containing 1g of cannabis.
Then on February 10, about 7.15pm, police found Kay in a caravan at West Gladstone where she was arrested for other matters, the court heard.
Sgt Hoskins said during a search at the watchhouse, police found Kay in possession of a clip-seal bag containing .01g of amphetamine.
Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Kay $1000 and convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Adrian Cron, 22,
Cron violently attacked an elderly fish and chip shop worker at Gladstone while affected by drugs and he was sentenced in May.
Cron appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 17 where he pleaded guilty to seven charges including drug possession and serious assault of a person over 60.
The court heard that after Cron’s arrest for the assault matter, he was searched at the watchhouse and found to be in possession of cannabis and two used glass pipes with burn marks on them.
The court heard Cron had been in pre-sentence custody for 106 days and Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan declared that as time served.
Ms Buchanan sentenced Cron to eight months’ jail and fixed parole eligibility at May 17, 2023. Convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Dean Michael Ingra, 34
In May, the Gladstone meth dealer with a “substantial criminal history” was taken off the streets and jailed.
Ingra pleaded guilty in the District Court at Gladstone on May 9 to 13 counts of supplying methamphetamine, and one count each of possessing methamphetamine and GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate).
The court heard Ingra was arrested by police on July 8, 2021 and found to have meth in his possession.
A subsequent search of his mobile phone revealed he had been supplying meth to people.
Judge Tony Moynihan sentenced Ingra to two years’ jail and set his parole eligibility date at June 18, 2023.
Judge Moynihan declared the 111 days in pre-sentence custody as time already served. Convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Brett Andrew King, 33
The Central Queensland mine worker pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 2 to possessing methamphetamine and a drug utensil.
The court heard that about 2.30am on March 31, police intercepted King, driving in Gladstone Central, for a breath test.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths said officers saw King to be nervously shaking and behaving in a defensive manner and they detained the vehicle for a search.
Sgt Griffiths said during the search, police found a sunglasses case which contained 0.9g of methamphetamine and a glass pipe.
King was fined $1800 and convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Monicque Therese Sharman, 51
The Gladstone region grandmother faced court in April on a string of drug charges featuring methamphetamine and cannabis.
Sharman pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on April 5 to offences including four counts of possessing dangerous drugs.
The court heard Sharman’s offending included possessing 0.107g of meth, 0.02g of meth, 2.4g of cannabis and 1.16g of cannabis mixed in with tobacco.
Sharman was fined $800 and convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Gary Robert Charles Holt, 52
The former concreter faced court in May after police busted him with a drug-growing set-up inside his Clinton home.
Holt pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 3 to producing and possessing dangerous drugs, possessing property acquired to commit a drug offence, possessing instructions for producing dangerous drugs, and possessing drug utensils.
Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said about 11.30pm on December 4 last year, police attended Holt’s Clinton residence in relation to another matter.
Ms Leach said while officers were inside the residence, they saw two “large” cannabis grow tents in a bedroom.
The prosecutor said inside one of the tents, police found two cannabis plants - 73cm and 67cm in height.
Ms Leach said both plants had been harvested with stems cut off them.
The court heard that inside the residence, police also found 322.5g of marijuana and six cannabis seeds.
Officers also seized five books which contained instructions on how to care for cannabis plants.
Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Holt $1000 and no conviction was recorded. Read the full story here.
Sarah Annalise Van Bergen, 19
The Gladstone region teacher aide was nabbed by police in a random drug bust.
Van Bergen pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 2 to possessing dangerous drugs and drug utensils.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths said on April 14, police intercepted Van Bergen’s vehicle for a roadside breath test.
Sgt Griffiths said police subsequently searched the vehicle and found 3.1g of cannabis in a plastic container, as well as an electric grinder which contained cannabis residue, and a bong.
Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan placed Van Bergen on a six-month good behaviour order with a $450 recognisance.
The order included a drug diversion condition. No conviction was recorded. Read the full story here.
Zyon Frahm, 20, and Kasey May White, 20
The two Gladstone 20 year olds faced court in April after they were busted dealing drugs “in tandem” while both addicted to methamphetamine.
Frahm and White both appeared in Gladstone Magistrates Court on April 3.
Frahm pleaded guilty to one count each of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing a drug utensil.
White pleaded guilty to six counts of supplying dangerous drugs, one count of possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing a drug utensil.
Frahm was fined $500 and White $750. No convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Tracey Ann Peters, 55
In March, the Gladstone region grandmother was given a jail sentence for her latest drug offending.
Peters pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 15 to possessing cannabis, drug utensils and restricted medicines, as well as property used in a drug offence.
The court heard police found Peters with 98g of cannabis and the other items in the Gladstone region in May, 2022.
Peters was sentenced to one month jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months.
Convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Jessica Kate Rawlings, 38
The mother of seven faced court in March after police busted her with drugs in her handbag.
Rawlings pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 6 to possessing cannabis and contravening a police requirement.
Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said that on December 21 last year, police intercepted Rawlings driving on Philip Street, Kin Kora.
Ms Leach said during a search of Rawlings’ handbag, police found a clip-seal bag containing 4.08g of cannabis.
Rawlings was fined $500 and convictions were recorded. Read the full story here.
Sophie Clare Sweetland, 25
In the District Court at Gladstone on February 27, Sweetland pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying methamphetamine, possessing drug utensils, and contravening an order (in relation to her phone).
The court heard that on the afternoon of April 18 last year, police executed a search warrant at the young mother’s Buchanen Street home at Boyne Island in the Gladstone region, that would turn her life upside down.
Police found a water pipe that smelt of burnt cannabis, but the court heard there was something more sinister lying in wait.
The warrant included a condition to provide access to electronic devices, but Sweetland claimed she didn’t know the passcode to her phone and resisted providing it.
Eventually when police charged Sweetland and issued her with a notice to appear in court, she provided them with the passcode.
That allowed police to examine her phone and what they found was evidence indicating Sweetland was a drug dealer.
During sentencing, Judge Craig Chowdhury said amphetamine was a “really nasty, dangerous drug” and “one of the worst inventions of mankind”.
“In this day and age, it causes untold misery in our society,” Judge Chowdhury said.
“It just wrecks people’s lives.”
Sweetland was sentenced to nine months’ jail with immediate parole. Read the full story here.
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