Blackwater miner Reece Charles Thompson jailed for meth trafficking

He has been working in the mining industry for almost 20 years. Read here what drove him to begin an illegal enterprise.

Blackwater miner Reece Charles Thompson jailed for meth trafficking

A Central Queensland miner will spend the next six months in prison before being released on parole for trafficking drugs for 10 months.

Reece Charles Thompson, 37, had 17 customers with text messages detailing 28 supplies - only seven confirmed to have taken place and with 18 agreements - the Supreme Court in Rockhampton heard on February 5.

Justice Graeme Crow said Thompson’s trafficking of methamphetamines was “low level”, supplying to end users in quantities of 0.1 to 0.7 grams between December 13, 2021, and November 3, 2022.

The Blackwater local was at a house on November 2, 2022, when police attended for another matter and his drug trafficking was revealed.

The court heard the father-of-three only made $6780 from the illegal business.

Defence barrister Simon Lewis said his client started using meth to self medicate after a shoulder injury eight years ago and the prescriptions for painkillers for that injury ran out.

He said Thompson, who has worked in the mining industry since he was 19, supports his young family, which includes a 10-month-old.

Mr Lewis said he had been with his current partner for three-years and has two children, aged eight and six, from his prior long-term relationship, which broke down due to his drug use.

Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking a dangerous drug and one of possessing anything used in trafficking drugs.

He was sentenced to three years prison with parole release on August 4, 2024.