Emu Park resident Shane Joseph O’Brien, 38, supplied meth and marijuana to five people

A drug user who was busted carrying out supplies of methamphetamines and marijuana told police he was a ‘middle man’ to stop others from being ripped off.

Shane Joseph O’Brien, 38, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on October 7 to eight counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

A drug user who was busted carrying out supplies of methamphetamines and marijuana told police he was a middle man to stop others from being ripped off.

Shane Joseph O’Brien, 38, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on October 7 to eight counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

Crown prosecutor Claire Brtevnik said police searched O’Brien’s Emu Park residence on August 25, 2021, and seized a mobile phone which revealed the eight supplies which took place between July 23, 2021, and August 18, 2021.

She said O’Brien’s supplies were to five people, including five supplies of meth and three of marijuana.

Ms Brtevnik said he initially denied the offending to police and then denied the supplies eventuated.

“He referred to himself as a ‘middle man’ to prevent others from being ripped off,” she said.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said her client shared custody of his 10-year-old daughter and was a stepfather to his defacto partner’s child.

She said his own father died when he was young and he grew up with his mother, seven siblings and stepfather.

Ms Marsden said his mother was deceased and his stepfather had terminal cancer.

She said O’Brien left school in grade eight, going on to work cutting trees with his stepfather.

Ms Marsden said he later worked as a furniture removalist, delivery driving and spent 10 years with Ergon Energy digging power pole holes.

She said he was most recently working at the shop at the rubbish tip.

Ms Marsden said O’Brien also carried out volunteer work, maintaining the yard for Capricorn Helicopter Rescue.

She said he has been receiving rehabilitation help through Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Services for 12 months and Relationships Australia.

O’Brien started using marijuana when he was eight or nine years old and drugs were part of the family environment, the court heard.

“By the age of 13 or 14, he started using speed and as an adult, he was using both weed and methamphetamines almost daily,” Ms Marsden said.

“He can see that weed has been a major factor in relation to his criminal offending.

“He attributes his offending to his addiction.”

Ms Marsden pointed to the support O’Brien now had, including his mother-in-law and his partner, both who were in court in his support, along with his partner’s father.

“She (mother-in-law) is clearly someone with high standards, but someone who has also demonstrated love, support and commitment,” Ms Marsden said.

She said O’Brien’s mother-in-law had called the police on him over his drug use as she did not support drug use in any way.

“So for her to be supporting him to the lengths she is now, that speaks volumes to the change that he has made,” Ms Marsden said.

She said O’Brien had produced clean drug tests since November 2021 and was booked in to a relapse prevention program with his partner.

“They made the decision to get their life sorted and stopped drug use, and they have changed their social groups completely, and have supported each other to stop using and live a better life,” Ms Marsden said.

Judge Jeff Clarke said O’Brien had been on three suspended sentences at the time of his offending.

He ordered all three be activated in full – a cumulation of four-months prison – to run concurrently with his supplies sentence of 15 months prison.

Judge Clarke ordered O’Brien be released immediately on parole.