Blade Owen Hoffman granted bail on drugs charges including supply

A Central Queensland man who allegedly committed crimes the day he was released from jail, while on four suspended sentences, has successfully applied for bail to live near Mackay.

A Central Queensland man facing numerous drugs charges including supply, has been bailed to live near Mackay.

Blade Owen Hoffman, 24, appeared in custody in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 29 where he made a bail application.

Mr Hoffman is facing eight charges including two of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and utensils, and obstructing police.

The court heard that Mr Hoffman was not in a show cause situation.

In objecting to bail, police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said Mr Hoffman was released from prison on the day of these alleged offences.

“There has been an incident where police have attended in relation to the Rockhampton Base Hospital, in relation to all the offences before the court,” Snr Const Rowe said.

The prosecutor said Mr Hoffman’s history was “aggravating” and he had a history of committing further offences.

“He is not subject to bail, but has only just been released from prison, Your Honour, and on the same day commits all these offences before the court,” Snr Const Rowe said.

Snr Const Rowe said she believed Mr Hoffman would place the community “at risk of committing serious offences again” given these alleged offences happened “only a number of hours” after he was released from jail.

Solicitor Samantha Legrady said Mr Hoffman was currently in receipt of a Newstart payment and he instructed that he had work lined up on a friend’s boat.

Ms Legrady said Mr Hoffman’s proposed bail address at Mirani had been deemed suitable.

In relation to proposed reporting conditions that could be put in place, Ms Legrady said Mr Hoffman was happy to comply with reporting to Mackay police station.

Ms Legrady said Mr Hoffman was also willing to have a curfew put in place if required, and he was prepared to wear an ankle tracking bracelet.

“There is also a surety that he is able to have put in place, and that is a surety of $5000 if required by the court,” Ms Legrady said.

The solicitor said Mr Hoffman had no fail to appears or breaches of bail on his criminal history, but there was a breach of a suspended sentence where the operational period was extended.

Ms Legrady said in relation to the current charges, they “do breach four suspended sentences that he’s currently on.”

Before delivering his ruling, Magistrate Cameron Press said it was not alleged that the amount of drugs involved were of a substantial quantity.

“The evidence here is at least, moderate,” Mr Press said.

“If convicted, the defendant may or may not face a term of imprisonment.

“I note that he had just recently been released from custody, however, was not on parole at the time of the alleged commission of these offences.

“He is not in a show cause situation, so there is a presumption that he should receive bail unless the court is satisfied that he represents an unacceptable risk of committing further offences.”

Mr Press noted that Mr Hoffman had “quite an extensive criminal record” but said it was “certainly not characterised by fail to appears or even breach of bail conditions.”

“And he would certainly have been subject to such conditions and undertakings over the years,” the magistrate said.

Mr Press ruled that he could not be satisfied that Mr Hoffman represented an unacceptable risk.

He granted Mr Hoffman bail on strict conditions including reporting to Mackay police station three days per week, starting April 1.

Mr Hoffman must reside at the Mirani address and must not be found away from that residence between 7pm and 7am the following day.

“So you’re not to go out at night, full stop,” Mr Press said.

Mr Hoffman must also not consume alcohol or illicit drugs as part of his bail conditions, and he has to submit to alcohol and drug testing as required by police.

Mr Hoffman’s matters were adjourned to April 26 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court.