Central Queensland dad in trouble for illegal pepper spray purchase

A surging crime rate led a Central Queensland electrician to source illegal pepper spray online. 

A dad has faced Gladstone court after he illegally purchased pepper spray online. Generic image.

A Central Queensland electrician illegally purchased pepper spray online so his family would be safe while he was at work amid “a lot of break-ins”, a court has heard.

Trevor Duncan Youngberg, 30, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on August 16 to numerous drugs charges including three counts of possession and one count of producing, as well as possessing a weapon.

A sentencing schedule was tendered and the court heard that the possession charges related to cannabis and cannabis oil.

The weapon was pepper spray and a self-represented Youngberg told Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy that he had bought it due to the amount of crime happening where he lived.

“There was a lot of break and enters … in the area where we were,” Youngberg said.

“I just wanted to feel comfortable while I was at work, for them (family) to be safe at home on their own.”

Gladstone Courthouse.

Youngberg told the court he was a leading hand electrician who had been an alcoholic and he was trying his hardest to remove that issue from his life.

In a reference tendered to the court, Youngberg was described as being an “exemplary employee.”

Youngberg said he had previously broken his back and he used cannabis for pain relief.

The court heard that Youngberg had a one-page criminal history.

Back in May, Youngberg faced the Gladstone court after he got into an ugly confrontation with a Gladstone shop owner.

For the latest offences before the court, Mr Kennedy fined Youngberg $100, placed him on 12 months’ probation, and no convictions were recorded.