Kurt Dale Baker pleads guilty to supplying drugs to 14-year-old girl

A Mackay meat worker who offered drugs to a 14 year old girl has been harshly reprimanded as a court heard his behaviour could carry a 25-year maximum jail term.

A Mackay meat worker who offered drugs to a 14-year-old girl has been harshly reprimanded, noting his behaviour could carry a 25-year maximum jail term.

Teenager Kurt Dale Baker had been living in a Rural View group share house when the incident occurred in April 2021.

Mackay Supreme Court heard the 19 year old felt guilty over his behaviour after another member of the household witnessed the offence and phoned police.

Kurt Dale Baker pleaded guilty to aggravated supply of a dangerous drugs to a minor under 16 years old.

Baker was smoking marijuana mixed with tobacco in a makeshift Dare bottle bong when the child expressed an interest in sharing the drugs, to which she did.

Justice Graeme Crow said there was no suggestion the child had not previously tried drugs “and therefore was not corrupted by you introducing cannabis to this child”.

Baker pleaded guilty to aggravated supply of a dangerous drugs to a minor under 16 years old.

Barrister Matt Heelan said his client felt “like an idiot”, had since been to ATODS to seek help and pushed for no conviction to be recorded.

The court heard he had no criminal history and a reference described Baker as a valued worker.

Justice Crow accepted Baker’s conduct was at the lower end and represented an error in judgment.

Baker was placed on 12 months probation and a conviction was not recorded.