Businessman John Stuart Realf busted with meth, marijuana

A Gladstone business owner’s ‘meth-induced paranoia’ has been revealed as he faced a Rockhampton court for offences.

John Stuart Realf, 48, was sentenced on February 20, 2023, for possessing drugs.

A meth-addicted Central Queensland business owner’s enterprise is $340,000 in debt as a result of Covid lockdowns and his bail conditions, a court has heard.

John Stuart Realf, 48, is joint chief executive officer with his brother of Realfs Diving and Salvage in Gladstone.

He faced sentencing in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton after pleading guilty to possession of meth and marijuana,

The court heard Realf built a bunker in his backyard during a methamphetamine-induced paranoia about humanity’s future.

His defence barrister, Tom Polley, said Realf was using the drug ice three times a week for a year before his arrest.

“He fell down that rabbit hole of being very concerned about the world’s future and humanity’s future,” he said.

“He was worried the world was falling apart.”

John Stuart Realf’s business is deep in debt.

He was busted on October 20, 2021, during a police operation targeting drug distribution in Gladstone.

He was found with 2.784g meth in three clip seal bags.

Realf also had about two grams of marijuana in the main bedroom of his residence.

The court heard Realf had a dated criminal record for possessing minor amounts of drugs.

Mr Polley said the nature of the diving business was mostly emergency situations and due to Realf’s bail conditions, he had to turn down work since his arrest in 2021.

He said his client, who had been awarded a basketball scholarship when he was in high school, was the sole commercial diver at the company and the charter boat business attached to the company folded during Covid.

Mr Polley said the business, which had seven employees, was two years and $160,000 behind in rent and had a total debt of $340,000.

Realf provided two negative drug test results - from November 14, 2022, and February 16, 2023 - to the court.

Realf, who is a qualified electrician taught to dive by his parents before he was five years old, was supported in court by his daughters and son-in-law.

His partner of over 30 years was in the court precinct caring for their grandchild.

Justice Graeme Crow commented about the unusualness of the case, saying it was usually the children in the dock being sentenced as their parents sat in the back of the courtroom supporting them.

“This is the wrong way around,” he said.

“(Meth) is so addictive. It’s so devastating.

“Meth has been destructive for you personally.”

Justice Crow sentenced Realf to 18 months prison, wholly suspended and operational for 18 months.