Ian James Naylor, 64, supplied meth to a woman

A widower who lost his wife of 38 years to ovarian cancer has fronted court after supplying drugs to a woman which, as his defence lawyer described, was “silly banter”.

A widower who lost his wife of 38 years to ovarian cancer has fronted court after supplying drugs to a woman which, as his defence lawyer described, was “silly banter”.

Ian James Naylor, 64, pleaded guilty on November 26 in Rockhampton District Court to one count of supplying a dangerous drug and one of possessing an item used in the commission of a crime.

Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said Naylor’s supply of about 0.1g of meth was discovered during a search on May 1, 2020.

The supply was made on April 12, 2020.

Ms O’Rourke said Naylor’s criminal record showed he had a long history of problems with drugs, including drug use and supplies.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said her client lost his wife of 38 years three years ago to ovarian cancer.

She said Naylor was adopted and growing up, he was threatened by his adoptive parents that “if he didn’t behave, he would be returned to the orphanage”.

Ms Marsden said that over the years Naylor worked as a butcher, at Cash Converters, and did work at St Vincent de Pauls as a way of paying off his $9000 State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) debt.

She said he had been to his GP and received a script for medicinal marijuana to help with arthritis in his neck and clogged arteries.

“He didn’t actually have methamphetamines to supply,” Ms Marsden said.

“It was a silly banter between him and the woman.”

She said Naylor claimed he had removed himself from the drug scene, however, people still knew how to contact him and that was how this offence came about.

Judge Paul Smith said the charge arose after a search warrant was executed while Naylor was at a friend’s place where he was found in possession of $250, which he told police was for a television, and the woman had $300 and a needle.

“You are getting a bit old to be coming to court,” he said.

Judge Smith placed Naylor on probation for six months and a conviction was recorded.