“Completely reformed” meth-addict dad, Clinton Robinson pleaded guilty to 39 charges in Ipswich Court

A meth addict dad facing 39 charges has ‘completely changed his life around’, according to his lawyer and was praised for his “remarkable” rehabilitation.

A father was praised for his ‘remarkable’ rehabilitation by an Ipswich Court magistrate.

Clinton Terence Robinson, 39, pleaded guilty to a total of 39 charges before the court on May 31, 2022.

The charges included five counts of possession of dangerous drugs, several counts of driving without a licence and driving under the influence of drugs, two counts of obstructing a police officer, nine breaches of bail and several other vehicle and drug-related offences.

The court heard the most significant offence was committed on April 17, 2017, in Walloon when police found Robinson in possession of two bags of methamphetamine.

The larger bag held 9.317 grams, with 71.6 per cent purity, and the smaller bag held 0.388 grams with less than 69.4 per cent purity.

“It’s been five years, and [Robinson]’s completely changed his life around,” said his defence lawyer.

Court heard that Robinson started using drugs during social situations after completing grade nine of school, and suffered a significant personal loss during his relationship with his first partner – who he met at age 20 and had three children with.

He has a relevant criminal history and the prosecutor noted that some of these most recent offences occurred while he was on a suspended sentence for an unrelated matter.

According to his defence lawyer, Robinson met his current partner in 2017, the year of his most serious offending and realised in 2020 that “it was really getting a bit too much.”

He soon after engaged in the Courtlink program for 17 weeks and his participation was described as ‘admirable.’

Through the Courtlink program, Robinson worked on mitigation strategies for his drug use that his defence lawyer said “are still significant in assistance to this day.”

After his participation in Courtlink however, Robinson did commit further drug-related offences in December 2020 – which his lawyer noted were comparatively minor to his previous offences.

Robinson did not commit any further offences except for one breach of bail after his December 2020 relapse.

He currently works full-time as a roofer and has worked in the past as a labourer, concreter and forklift operator.

The court also heard Robinson pays child support of $150 a week to his ex-partner.

“He has an excellent work ethic; he’s a contributing member of society; he’s completely reformed himself from the man who unfortunately committed a significant number of offences in recent years,” said Robinson’s defence lawyer.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne took into account that Robinson’s most significant charges were in 2017, and the charges since were relatively minor in comparison and consistent with Robinson’s drug addiction.

“It does appear that you have undertaken significant rehabilitation since many of the offences that are before the court, and you are to be commended for that because it’s not an easy thing,” she said.

“I appreciate that you have got yourself in a position where you’ve got full-time employment, which is remarkable. A lot of people – even without the difficulties you’ve had, and the history that you’ve got, and the convictions that you’ve got – find that very difficult to sustain.”

“It does indicate to the court that you are someone that takes rehabilitation very seriously.”

Magistrate Payne sentenced Robinson to two years imprisonment for the most significant drug possession charge in April 2017, with immediate parole release.

Robinson was also ordered to surrender all drug related utensils and disqualified from driving for a further two years.

He was further fined $6,672.50 for his evasion charge, and given 18 months probation for all other offences.