Precious metals, keen cooks and a baton-weilding grandmother

AN IPSWICH man told police drug utensils found in his car were used to weigh precious metals and melt sugar and a baton was his grandmother's.

AN IPSWICH man told police drug utensils were used to weigh and melt sugar and a baton was his grandmother's, a court has heard.

Michael Pasquale Evola, 23, pleaded guilty at the Ipswich Magistrates Court yesterday to charges of possessing a restricted weapon, possessing drug utensils, and wilful damage.

On December 13 last year Evola's vehicle was intercepted by police on Pelican St.

Police searched the car and found an extendable baton, which Evola told police was his grandma's which she used for protection when catching the bus.

Questioned about scales found in the vehicle, one of the passengers said they were in the precious metals business and the scales were used to weigh gold and silver items.

The court heard police then found a small blow torch which they were told was used to melt sugar on cakes as the people in the car were keen cooks.

The court heard Evola was also involved in smashing the rear window of a taxi in the early hours of December 20 when he drove behind a cab at Redbank Plaza and two people got out and smashed the window with golf clubs.

Evola was placed on probation for two years.

Originally published as Precious metals, keen cooks and a baton-weilding grandmother