Zade Leonard Hoffman pleaded guilty to five dangerous drug charges in Gladstone Magistrates Court

“I’m sick to death of supplies, because at the end of the day this s--- is getting down to our kids”: A Magistrate has reached boiling point over drug offences in the Gladstone region. Read what he had to say to a young offender here.

A young drug supplier with “a future in front of him” appeared in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Friday to face a string of offences.

Zade Leonard Hoffman, 19, pleaded guilty to five drug related charges including possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of a restricted drug and two counts of possessing utensils or pipes that had been used.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd told the court that on August 12, around 1pm, Gladstone police executed a search warrant on Hoffman’s Cook Street address in West Gladstone.

Before the search police seized Hoffman’s phone which contained messages between him and another man related to the supply of marijuana, featuring messages like “I grabbed a gram this morning cuzzi”.

During the search police located a bowl which contained 15.1 grams of marijuana buds and 1.75 grams of ground cannabis in Hoffman’s lounge room.

Zade Leonard Hoffman, 19, pleaded guilty to five drug related charges in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Friday.

Also found were three bowls, two grinders, scissors and digital scales, most of which had marijuana residue on them.

Hoffman claimed ownership of both the marijuana and paraphernalia and was issued a Notice To Appear.

Hoffman’s lawyer Jun Pepito said his client had been working as a trade assistant in Blackwater since the incident.

“My client has made changes to his lifestyle after recently being made aware he is soon to be a father and regularly being drug tested at work,” Mr Pepito said.

Magistrate Bevan Manthey disagreed with Mr Pepito’s submission of a fine and wanted a probation order hanging over Hoffman’s head.

“I’m sick to death of supplies, because at the end of the day this s--- is getting down to our kids, we’ve got kids coming through here with mental health issues from drugs,” he said.

“Direct or indirect they are getting it, some of it is laced with meth, so I will not be going with a fine.

“My view is there needs to be some sort of assistance and deterrent over his head because despite having a future in front of him, he may face some time.”

Hoffman was convicted and placed on a 12-month probation order. A conviction was not recorded and all drug paraphernalia was forfeited.

“You are a fool, you are under the police radar now with the coppers and it's a small community,” Mr Manthey said.