Gympie man fined $3.6k for drugs, weapons, failing to appear

The 23-year-old fronted Gympie Magistrates Court on nine charges including possession of drugs and two knives, after his backpack containing several illegal items was found in bushland during a police search.

William Kevin McCoombes​ racked up more than $3.5k in fines after a backpack containing several illegal items, including dangerous drugs, utensils and two knives, was found in bushland during a police search.

A 23-year-old Gympie man racked up more than $3.5k in fines after a backpack containing several illegal items, including dangerous drugs, utensils and two knives, was found in bushland during a police search.

William Kevin McCoombes fronted Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday from the dock under police guard, where he could be seen leaning with his back against the wall, and his head tilted upwards.

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell said police were called to Gympie Funeral Homes in Monkland on May 26 after McCoombes knocked on their door requesting to use their phone, before he fled into bushland.

She said police conducted foot patrols around the area, but failed to locate McCoombes, though they did find shoes and a backpack.

Inside the backpack officers found a bank card with McCoombes’ name, as well as a clip seal bag containing 10.47g of marijuana, another bag containing 45 marijuana seeds and a third bag containing 0.35g of meth.

Police also found two sleeves containing tablets, as well as a pair of throwing knives and several glass pipes, two pairs of scissors, electronic scales and a hand grinder, Sgt Campbell said.

McCoombes was found by police the next day sleeping in a garden shed with a small clip seal bag containing 0.36g of meth, and he was arrested.

McCoombes’ lawyer Anna Smith said the drugs found were for her client’s personal use, and helped with administration of justice by not needing to be sent off for analysis.

She also said in regard to the possession of the throwing knives, McCoombes was homeless and obtained the knives as a means of self-defence.

McCoombes was charged with possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, possession of a knife in a public place, unlawful possession of controlled drugs and failing to appear.

He pleaded guilty to the nine charges and was fined $3600 with all property seized ordered to be forfeited.

A conviction was also recorded.