Jermaine Lee Anderson jailed for repeat disqualified driving and possessing drugs
As his client prepares for another stint behind bars, a defence lawyer has revealed why a Rockhampton man has spent most of the past six years in prison for various crimes.
Police & Courts
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A man who has spent most of the past six years in prison has done so because he keeps breaching parole.
Jermaine Lee Anderson, 34, pleaded guilty on March 28 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count each of disqualified driving, driving with drugs in his system, possess drugs and obstruct police.
Magistrate Jason Schubert said Anderson had a six-page criminal record, which included a conviction for unlawful escape from custody and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, along with a four-page traffic record.
“It appears you drive when you want to drive, irrespective of your licence status,” he said.
Police prosecutor Brandy Butler said police intercepted Anderson driving a silver Subaru on December 17 at 4.22pm on Fitzpatrick Street, Berserker.
She said he had been disqualified from driving for three years by court on March 18, 2021, and given a nine-month prison term.
Ms Butler said he had methamphetamines in his system at the time.
She said Anderson was located at a Frenchville residence on February 21, 2022 in possession of restricted drugs after witnessing him place items down his pants.
Ms Butler said as police escorted him to the police vehicle, Anderson broke free from the constable’s grasp and ran away from police.
She said Anderson led police on a foot chase in the streets and bushland with police repeatedly telling him to stop before they managed to track him and handcuff him.
Ms Butler said Anderson had been handed a three-month prison term in March 2021 with parole release in June 2021 for evasion and other offences.
Defence lawyer Ken Spinaze said his client came from a difficult background having been exposed to violence and alcohol in his home and in the community.
“He has an addiction to drugs,” he said.
“It is an addiction he has been fighting for most of his life.”
Mr Spinaze said Anderson started using marijuana when he was 13 and moved onto ecstasy and other drugs at 19, but then abstained between the ages of 21-29.
He said Anderson worked at a piggery after leaving school and then went on to work for an industrial company that had a contract with Queensland Rail.
Mr Spinaze said his client operated heavy machinery in this job and was regularly tested for drugs, which he did not consume during this period.
He said Anderson had a long-term relationship which broke down and he lost his job, turned to alcohol and then drugs.
Mr Spinaze said his client had spent most of the past six years in prison as he kept breaching parole.
“During this period, he did not seek rehabilitation for his addiction,” he said.
Mr Spinaze said Anderson had asked Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Service to help him apply to the rehabilitation service Helem Yumba.
Mr Schubert ordered Anderson to 10-months prison and disqualified him from driving for two years and four months on top of the current disqualification period.
He declared 35 days presentence custody and set parole eligibility on May 31, 2022.
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