Gympie man Kyle William McEwan fronts Ipswich court on drug supply charges

A Gympie dad and former auto retail worker has told a court money was tight when he was busted dealing meth after trying for more than a year to get a new job.

A young dad has walked free from court with no recorded convictions after pleading guilty to a spate of “serious” crimes including weapon and ammunition possession and supplying methamphetamine and cannabis.

Kyle William McEwan, 20, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to nine charges; some of the most serious being possessing explosives, possessing a firearm, and two counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

The court heard he committed all of the offences in August last year, when he was 19 years old.

Legal officer at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Jacqueline Sinclair, said the supply charges were laid after August 24, when police inspected McEwan’s car about 10.15am and found a number of items of interest in his possession, including two clip-seal bags containing 1.51g of methamphetamine.

She said McEwan, a dad-of-one from Gympie, told police the substance was ice when questioned.

“The defendant unlocked his phone when requested by police and, after observing drug-related messages on the phone, police seized it,” Ms Sinclair said.

She told the court police found a message conversation with one person in which McEwan agreed to supply them with “a quantity” of drugs for $240, and a conversation with a second person in which he agreed to supply them with 7g of cannabis for $60.

Police also located a firearm, ammunition, and $1575 – the proceeds of selling drugs – in his car.

Kyle William McEwan, 20, leaving Ipswich Magistrates Court on Ellenborough St on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

Ms Sinclair noted that while McEwan’s offending was serious, his youth, lack of criminal history, and early pleas of guilty were mitigating factors.

Prosecutor Sergeant Nick Turnbull agreed his lack of history and violent offending were in his favour, though the fact he was armed with a weapon – albeit a “blank firing pistol” – made the matter more serious.

Defence lawyer Adam Moschella said he did not wish to downplay his client’s offending, but it was on the “lower end” of the spectrum of seriousness as it only related to two instances of drug supply.

He told the court McEwan made “full and frank” admissions to authorities, even going so far as to tell them about his drug dealing behaviour before they searched his phone.

The young man also directed police to the items of interest in his car.

Mr Moschella reiterated the firearm referred to in the charges did not actually shoot bullets, but simply made a noise.

“I don’t wish to downplay the offence,” he said.

“But I think it’s a relevant consideration that my client’s not essentially running around with a weapon that shoots actual bullets.”

A young dad has walked free from court with no recorded convictions after pleading guilty to a spate of “serious” crimes. Picture: Supplied

Magistrate Grace Kahlert said the weapon would still have been “terrifying” to others when used.

The court heard money was tight and McEwan was using methamphetamine when he offended, but he understood he made an “incredibly poor” decision.

Mr Moschella said the young man grew up in Gympie and still resides there today. He worked at Supercheap Auto until the end of 2020 and has been looking for work since.

Mr Moschella asked Ms Kahlert to consider his client’s remorse as well as his complete lack of a criminal history, “significant” co-operation with police, young age, issues with substance abuse, and early pleas of guilty when deciding an appropriate penalty.

Ms Kahlert told McEwan he had put himself at risk of being sentenced to a term of imprisonment with his “serious” offending.

She said his penalty should deter him and other people in the community from “pretending that they’re big time drug dealers and carrying around pretend guns”.

Noting his prospects of rehabilitation and that he was otherwise a “good young man” who was supportive and kind to other people, as well as other factors raised by the defence and prosecutions, Ms Kahlert sentenced McEwan to 2.5 years’ probation.

The young dad will also need to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service in the next 12 months.

No convictions were recorded.