Drug crook caught after court

SHORTLY after facing drug-related charges in court Aaron Gary Cooke went to a motel room where he helped a friend cook up a batch of methamphetamines.

Aaron Cooke. Picture: File

SHORTLY after facing drug-related charges in a Rockhampton court Aaron Gary Cooke went to a motel room where he helped a friend cook up a commercial-size batch of methamphetamines.

On that day in November 2009, Justice Duncan McMeekin had placed Cooke, 30, on parole.

Cooke had then gone to a caravan park in Rockhampton to help Kevin Patrick Brady who was having problems at his “unsophisticated” drug lab.

On Tuesday, Cooke was back before Justice McMeekin, in the Supreme Court at Rockhampton, where he pleaded guilty to producing methamphetamines.

Brady, 26, also pleaded guilty to one charge of producing methamphetamines and the possession of chemicals and equipment used in creating the drugs.

Both got lengthy jail terms.

The court heard Brady, his former partner and their children had rented a villa at the caravan park where a drug lab was set up.

Cooke was a regular visitor to the park and later rented a room there himself.

Police, acting on information, raided the two villas where evidence of the drug lab was discovered.

A few days prior to the raid, a cleaner had found a 20 litre drum of acetone, which is used in the drug’s production.

Crown Prosecutor Michael Byrne said nearly 10 grams of pure meth was discovered.

“It’s too much for pure personal use. I don’t doubt there was to be some consumed but there was an aspect of commerciality,” Mr Byrne said.

Brady’s defence barrister Jeff Clarke said his client obtained information over the internet to find out how to build a lab and his primary purpose was to feed his partner’s habit.

“It’s the first time he’s produced drugs ... he took responsibility for his involvement in the drug production,” Mr Clarke said.

He said Brady started using drugs at 14 which led to his heavy reliance on speed and a habit of a gram a day.

Cooke’s defence barrister Tom Polley said his client didn’t know the full extent of Brady’s plans for the drug operation until he was asked to assist at the end of the process when Brady stuck problems with trying to produce the drugs.

Meanwhile, Mr Polley said Cooke started using cannabis at 14 and by about 17 he was addicted to heroin and amphetamines.

Both men had been trying to clean up their addictions.

Justice McMeekin described the drug lab as unsophisticated before sentencing Brady to four years in jail to be suspended after serving 16 months and Cooke to three-and-a-half years, suspended after serving 14 months.

Originally published as Drug crook caught after court