Robert John Curtis pleads guilty to supplying meth

A man trying to help his mate score meth came to the attention of police who were monitoring the activities of his dealer.

An Emerald man tried to help his mate score methamphetamine – instead he ended up spending more than nine months in jail.

Police were targeting Robert John Curtis’ drug dealer as part of an operation that began in December 2020 when the then 40-year-old came to their attention over a $150 sale.

Mackay District Court heard lawful phone taps revealed that on October 4, 2021, Curtis called his dealer to buy “one point” of meth for $150 “which he would pass on to his friend”.

“And in so doing he engaged in an act (akin) to the supply of the drug to that friend,” Crown legal clerk Harriet Hall-Pearce said.

She added the Crown could not say whether or not the supply actually took place, and pushed for a penalty of time already served with immediate release.

Police raided Curtis’ Emerald home on December 13, and he was arrested and refused bail.

He has spent 231 days in pre-sentence custody.

Curtis pleaded guilty to supplying meth as well as refusing police access to his mobile phone possessing a used drug pipe.

The court heard it was deemed an early plea of guilty.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan said his client, now 41, had been exposed to domestic violence in his childhood and had a good work history as an adult.

The court heard he had worked as a concreter for the past 12 years, the past four of which he had worked for his brother until they had a falling out, and he was fired.

“It’s under those circumstances he turned to using methamphetamine; that was the context of the offending here,” Mr McLennan said.

The court heard Curtis planned to move back to Gympie on his release.

He was jailed for 231 days, which was declared as time already served, and given immediate release. Convictions were recorded.