Joshua James Shaw and Bradley John Jones in court for drugs

Two disabled pensioners made homeless by the Gympie floods have fronted court after police found them smoking pot in their makeshift tent beside the Mary River. Read what the court heard:

Two men busted with pot at a campsite by the Mary River were fined in court after they pitched a tent and smoked cannabis near the Mary River in Gympie.

Joshua James Shaw and Bradley John Jones pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a water pipe.

On June 16, 2022 at about 12.20pm, police spotted a tent set up near the Mary River off the Bruce Highway at Monkland and decided to investigate as it was on council grounds, Gympie Magistrates Court was told on Monday.

The tent flap was open and police could see two men sitting in the tent with a bowl lying on Jones’ legs.

The bowl contained cannabis alongside a pair of scissors to chop up the drugs.

Joshua James Shaw (left) and Bradley John Jones (right) were fined for drug offences in Gympie Magistrates Court.

As they stood in the doorway of the tent, Shaw attempted to hide more cannabis behind a mattress.

A total of 7 grams of cannabis was found, police prosecutor Melissa Campbell told the court.

A handmade water pipe was sitting on a low table in the middle of the tent, the court heard.

Shaw suffers from, epilepsy, brain injury, a blind left eye and was run over by a four-wheel-drive, defence lawyer Mark Oliver told the court.

Mr Oliver said Jones suffered from schizophrenia, and both men were on disability pensions.

The two had been in a relationship for 16 years and lost their home during the floods, the court heard.

With no private rental history, it had become a serious challenge for them to find a new home, Mr Oliver told the court.

The couple was fined $150 each and convictions were recorded.