Kealy Gare: Ipswich man’s ‘stupidity’ blamed for drug possession, driving crimes

The drug crimes of a 22-year-old Ipswich man with a clean criminal history have been put down to ‘stupidity’ and a still-developing brain.

The lawyer of a young Ipswich painting apprentice who was found to be in possession of cocaine, cannabis, MDMA, and weapons put his client’s behaviour down to “stupidity” and having a brain that is still developing.

Kealy Gare, 22, from Flinders View appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on February 8, facing eight charges including three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of weapons, and drug driving.

He pleaded guilty to all charges.

Police prosecutor Nick Turnbull told the court Gare was located at Brisbane City on June 12 last year with “not an insubstantial amount” of cocaine, cannabis and weapons.

The court heard he had also driven with drugs in his system.

Given Gare’s age and lack of criminal history, Mr Turnbull argued a rehabilitative sentence would be just and appropriate.

The court heard the young man was due to complete a four-year apprenticeship as a painter and decorator in September this year.

He came before the court with some traffic history but no criminal history.

Gare’s lawyer Richard Zande said his client‘s offending was the result of “young men being stupid”, stating also that stupidity, particularly surrounding the use of a motor vehicle, can be deadly.

Magistrate David Shepherd said he had taken into account Gare’s plea of guilty to the eight charges, seven of which related to possession of cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and implements including a knife.

The final charge related to him driving with cannabis in his system.

Mr Shepherd said drug use was often an escape for people who struggled to deal with certain difficulties in their lives, but said it could also just be the result of a person being “self-entitled”.

“Whatever the reason, if it involves issues which have not properly been resolved then you need to deal with that,” he told Gare.

Mr Shepherd ordered Gare serve a probation period of 12 months, provide urine analysis testing, and participate in therapeutic intervention to address illicit drug use as required.

Gare was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver‘s licence for one month.

Convictions were not recorded.