Craig Phillip Thompson sentenced for Joskeleigh drug crop

A former mine boss busted with a large drug plantation at his Capricorn Coast property has been sentenced in the District Court.

Craig Phillip Thompson leaves Rockhampton Courthouse after his sentencing on April 17, 2023.

A former mine operations supervisor has been given a jail sentence after police uncovered a large drug plantation at his Joskeleigh property on the Capricorn Coast.

Craig Phillip Thompson, 53, pleaded guilty in the District Court at Rockhampton on April 17 to producing and possessing cannabis, possessing drug utensils, and illegally possessing a weapon.

Crown Prosecutor Jodi Brown said that on June 30, 2022, police executed a search warrant at Thompson’s Joskeleigh residence.

Ms Brown said Thompson told officers he had cannabis in the house and he also showed them where plants were being grown at “three separate stations” on the property.

The court heard police seized 218 cannabis plants which consisted of 40 seedlings found in a cupboard, 116 plants of varying maturity in a grow tent inside the main shed, and 62 mature plants in a makeshift greenhouse.

Ms Brown said the total weight of the cannabis was about 23.5kg with the roots removed.

Ms Brown said police also seized 15 containers of fertilisers, insecticides and growing agents, as well as lights and an electrical ballast.

The court heard that inside Thompson’s house, police found five plastic bags containing cannabis - total weight about 365g - as well as three clip-seal bags containing about 19g of cannabis.

Further, police seized 15 cannabis seeds from inside the house, two bongs and a grinder.

The court heard that during the search, police also located a 22 calibre rifle which Ms Brown said was in good condition and still operable.

Thompson did not have a licence to possess the weapon.

Ms Brown said the Crown accepted the cannabis was produced for Thompson’s own use.

The court heard Thompson had “dated” prior drug offending on his criminal history.

In 1996, he was convicted and fined for possession of about 1g of cannabis, and in 2000 he was convicted and fined for possessing about 3.5g of cannabis, a tablet containing methamphetamine, and hydroponic equipment.

Defence Barrister Maree Willey said Thompson was a father of three who was educated to Year 10.

Ms Willey said after school, Thompson did a plumbing apprenticeship and he worked as a plumber for about 10 years.

Ms Willey said Thompson then moved to Queensland and started working with explosives, initially at a quarry before going on to work in the mining industry.

“Where (in the mining industry) he worked his way up to an operations supervisor where he had about 15 employees underneath him,” Ms Willey said.

“And he worked in that area for about 10 years also.”

Ms Willey said in 2009, on Thompson’s 40th birthday, he was involved in a motorbike accident and as a result of the injuries he suffered, he had not returned to the workforce.

Ms Willey said post accident, Thompson had undergone 18 surgeries, and he had bought the Joskeleigh property after receiving a permanent disability payout through his superannuation.

The court heard Thompson’s cannabis use had been “predominantly” after the accident to assist with pain, anxiety and depression, and despite being prescribed medicinal cannabis, decided to grow his own because the medicinal product was too expensive.

Ms Willey said after the accident, Thompson was smoking cannabis “all day, every day”.

“He estimated he was smoking up to an ounce or so a day, although he wasn’t really keeping track as such,” Ms Willey said.

The court heard Thompson, who receives Centrelink benefits, was now prescribed medication to help with his pain and depression issues, and had been engaged with drug rehab through AODS since August last year.

Judge Jeff Clarke sentenced Thompson to 18 months’ jail, suspended for an operational period of three years.

Thompson was also fined $750 and a forfeiture order was made.