Lauchlan Joseph McGregor in Supreme Court on meth, cocaine, weapons charges

The court heard it was ‘quite refreshing’ for a young man to admit his ‘downfalls’ of being found drunk on the roadside with nearly $25,000 in cash and almost $100,000 worth of meth.

A young man found with amount of meth and cocaine worth nearly $100,000 has finally faced his sentence after more than a year in custody, supported by his sobbing mother.

New details of a strange arrest were revealed after a young man found with nearly $100,000 worth of meth and cocaine faced Mackay Supreme Court.

Lauchlan Joseph McGregor pleaded guilty to possessing more than 200g of methylamphetamine and more than 2g of cocaine, as well as a handgun, knife, digital scale and $24,490 in cash.

Justice David North said police were called to Peri Road in Te Kowai the night of October 16, 2022 to find McGregor, then 24, intoxicated outside of a vehicle and asking for help to call his angry girlfriend.

“Police arrived responding to reports someone was yelling,” Justice North said.

When police searched Lauchlan Joseph McGregor on the night of October 16 they found 32g of cocaine and 126g of meth on his person and a package containing 200g of meth in the vehicle. The police also found $25,000 in cash and a handgun and knife. Picture: Contributed.

“You asked the police for help, stating you had had an argument with your girlfriend and had been left there.

“Police observed you were in distress and intoxicated.

“They watched you place a large sum of cash in your shorts.

“Police observed a package that ultimately contained methylamphetamine about eight to 10m away from the car.”

The court heard the package contained 208g of meth in 324g of substance and 15g of cocaine found within 28g of substance, both in clip seal packages indicating a “commercial purpose”.

Mackay Courthouse.

McGregor was arrested and spent a total of 401 days in presentence custody before facing the supreme court.

Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said he had an eight-page criminal history.

Defence barrister Scott Moon, instructed by Legal Aid, said McGregor’s mother was in court to support her son as she too had dealt with addiction.

The mother was able to have a tearful embrace with her son, and sobbed quietly throughout proceedings.

Police found Lauchlan Joseph McGregor on Peri Road in Te Kowai on the night of October 16.

The court heard McGregor’s teenage offending and drug use had been in the context of his mother struggling with her own sobriety.

Mr Moon said McGregor’s 25th birthday behind bars was an experience “he doesn’t wish to repeat”.

“It’s quite refreshing to see someone who accepts their downfalls (and) doesn’t blame anybody else,” Mr Moon said.

“He is at the crossroads of his life.”

Justice North sentenced McGregor to a head sentence of six and a half years with a parole eligibility date of October 15, 2024.

McGregor’s 401 days of presentence custody was declared as time already served.

Convictions were recorded for all offences and a serious drug offence certificate was issued.