Tobias Doherty sentenced at Gladstone for dealing drugs

A Central Queensland man who lost his job in the construction industry turned to dealing drugs via Facebook and Snapchat to pay his bills.

Tobias Kai Doherty, 22, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to drug offences including supply. Generic image.

A Central Queensland man who lost his job in the construction industry turned to dealing drugs to pay his bills, a court had heard.

Tobias Kai Doherty, 22, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, one count of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and property used in a drug offence.

The court heard that police went to Doherty’s Tannum Sands residence twice in May and found him with cannabis, a bong and scales.

Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said Doherty had 43.3g of cannabis.

“When questioned (during the second police visit), (Doherty) stated he had a list of customers that he would not share with police,” Mr O’Connor said.

The prosecutor said Doherty told police that he only sold cannabis “inside the house”, he did not sell to juveniles, and he used the proceeds to pay his rent and bills, as well as fund his own cannabis addiction “because he’d lost his job.”

The court heard that on Doherty’s phone, police found evidence that he had supplied cannabis using Snapchat and Facebook Messenger.

Doherty had one prior drug offence on his criminal history.

Solicitor Jun Pepito said Doherty had worked in the construction industry but he’d lost that employment.

Mr Pepito submitted probation would be appropriate given the circumstances.

Magistrate Edwina Rowan placed Doherty on 18 months’ probation with conditions and a conviction was recorded.