Barney Clifford James sentenced in Rockhampton for meth offending

‘I saw the devil every day for 10 years and lost everyone I love because of it’ - a Central Queensland meth addict’s confronting confession has been heard by a court during his sentencing.

Barney Clifford James was sentenced in the Supreme Court at Rockhampton on December 21.

A Central Queensland court has heard how a meth addict was using up to 2g of the drug a day during the darkest times of his life, an amount described as “enormous”.

Barney Clifford James, 36, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court at Rockhampton on December 21 to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing property used in connection with a drug offence, unlawful weapon possession, and contravening an order about access to information stored electronically.

The court heard that in June, 2022, police found James with 7.95g of pure methamphetamine, drug items and a knife.

James’ phone was seized but police were not able to get access to it despite the order.

The court heard that while police had the phone, it was on “locked screen” when they saw several messages come through from people seeking meth from James.

The Crown said James possessed the meth for both personal and commercial use.

Barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said James had been a painter but during his offending he was unemployed and using up to 2g of meth a day.

Barney Clifford James.

He was subsequently admitted to Rockhampton Hospital.

“There was an enormous amount of personal use associated with his possession of that almost 8g of pure methamphetamine,” Mr Ahlstrand said.

The barrister said James, a father of three, had turned to meth use following the death of his mother about 10 years ago, and the habit had gotten so “out of control” at one point James was homeless as a result.

“He (James) further says that ‘I saw the devil every day for 10 years and lost everyone I love because of it (meth addiction),” Mr Ahlstrand said.

The court heard James had a four-page criminal history that included previous drug offending for which he was jailed.

It was told that James had not used meth for the past 17 months - confirmed by drug tests - but he was still using cannabis which had showed up in the testing.

Before sentencing, Justice Graeme Crow said that using 2g of meth a day was an “enormous amount”.

In relation to James’ rehabilitation, Justice Crow noted that he had returned to work in July this year and he was a site supervisor and leading hand who was well regarded by his employer.

Justice Crow further noted that work was the best form of rehab.

James was sentenced to three years’ jail with immediate parole.