40 crimes: Cody Baker dad, cook, in Ipswich court for dealing, using meth

Stolen cars and meth: A young Ipswich dad racked up 40 crimes since 2019, with DNA evidence leading police straight to him.

A young Ipswich dad says he his life of heavy drugs and crime followed the ending of his relationship.

Cody Baker, who also goes by another surname, pleaded guilty to 40 crimes at the Ipswich Magistrates Court on December 14.

The 21-year-old spent 179 days in prison awaiting justice for his year’s long crime spree from October 2019 to June 2021.

Police prosecutor Bridie O’Shea said Baker clearly had issues with drug addiction which triggered his offending.

The court heard Baker first came to the attention of police after they raided his home, finding small bags of meth and marijuana.

Days later Baker was pulled over with 1.5g of meth in his car along with other “drug items”, and again in March 2020.

Months later police found an abandoned stolen car with Baker’s DNA inside and history repeated itself in July 2020 when he was found with a stolen car.

A barrage of drug driving, drug possession, uncovered drug dealing text messages, unlicensed driving, and no shows at court continued to stack charges up against Baker until he was arrested on June 18, 2021.

Baker’s legal counsel Ms Smith told the court the offending began three years ago when his relationship fell apart and he wasn’t allowed to see his now four-year-old.

Magistrate Kinsella told Cody Baker he was taking his word that he was drug free although if he wasn’t he suggested he come clean to his parole officer as soon as possible once released as it “would be the smart move”.

“His main goal is to regain employment and try and regain custody of his daughter,” she said.

Magistrate Kinsella said it wasn’t surprising that Baker was estranged from his child given his drug use.

“It’s the usual fairy-tale story – you started using cannabis moving on the obviously heavier drugs such as methamphetamine,” he said.

“The fact that what motivated your offending is drug use allows this court to approach it somewhat differently in that it must be construed as simple human frailty.”

Taking into account time already served, Magistrate Kinsella sentenced Baker to serve a 12 month probation order which will require him to be drug tested.

As part of his crime spree Baker was charged with seven counts of possessing drugs, five counts of possessing drug utensils, drug dealing, three counts of driving unlicensed, drug driving, knife possession, unlawful use of a stolen car, and 10 counts of breaching bail.