Daniel Haymen Hoad sentenced in court for possessing dangerous drugs

He once had a child, a wife, a good job and a mortgage, but drugs caused this Central Queensland dad to spend three months shackled to a hospital bed fighting a potentially fatal condition. Read how it changed his life forever.

A Gladstone drug user spent three months handcuffed to a bed in hospital under police guard after an infection in his hand ‘developed significantly’ while in the watchhouse into a staph infection that travelled through his bloodstream, infected his heart and caused him to suffer from endocarditis, which can be fatal.

Daniel Haymen Hoad, 38, pleaded guilty in the Rockhampton Supreme Court on July 28 to three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of not being endorsed to possess restricted drug, and one count each of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, failing to properly dispose of needle and syringe, possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, possessing utensils or pipes for use and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used.

Hoad’s offending came to light when police executed a search warrant at his unit on Tank Street, West Gladstone, on February 10, 2021, according to the statement of facts, which were read to the court by Justice Graeme Crow.

Police forced entry to the unit and Hoad was found in the main bedroom, hiding items inside the cupboard.

Police found 3.978g of methamphetamine, .296g of a substance containing cocaine, 5.3g of marijuana, .215g of a substance containing MDMA, 13 Viagra tablets and two Valium tablets.

Daniel Haymen Hoad, 38, appeared in the Rockhampton Supreme Court on July 28, 2022.

Police also found a used glass pipe, an unused glass pipe, a glass bong, two spoons with residue, a quantity of clip seal bags, an electric grinder, a capped needle, scales, and a another grinder.

On the bed police also found Hoad’s wallet containing $486.

Defence barrister N. Brown said his client was a man who started out his life in the usual way.

“By the age of 23 he had a child, a good work history, a house with a mortgage and a wife,” Mr Brown said.

“That continued until 2014 when there was a breakdown of his relationship, an introduction to drugs and then from there in and out of jail with respect to issues with substance abuse.”

He said his client was had three months of hospitalisation when he first went into custody where he was “shackled to the bed” other than using the bathroom.

The court heard that before becoming incarcerated, Hoad had developed an infection in his hand and after three days of not being able to take antibiotics in the watchhouse his infection ‘developed significantly’ to the point where he was required to go to hospital.

It was further heard in court the infection in the hand turned into a staph infection that travelled through his bloodstream and infected his heart and caused him to suffer from endocarditis.

“It gave him a lot of time to reflect on the fact he nearly lost his life because he wasn’t looking after himself and reflect on the choices he had been making,” Mr Brown said.

He said his client had made a positive decision to change his ways and undertake rehabilitation while in prison, completing a substance abuse program and had been free from drugs for 17.5 months.

“Since being released he has continued that progression to rehabilitation,” he said.

Justice Crow sentenced Hoad to two years prison with immediate release on parole.

The drug paraphernalia and other items were forfeited to the Crown.