Jye Holt, 41, supplied meth and marijuana to fund his own drug addiction

A Central Queensland rodeo clown has been given a jail sentence after being the target of a police drug distribution operation. Here’s how it unfolded.

A Central Queensland rodeo clown has been jailed after being the target of a police drug distribution operation.

Jye Holt, 41, pleaded guilty on August 5 in Rockhampton District Court to 10 counts of supplying a dangerous drug and one of possessing a thing used in a drug crime.

Crown prosecutor Alana Murray said Holt was the target of the operation which resulted in 16 people being charged with drug crimes with 11 dealt with by the courts as of August 5.

She said Holt’s telecommunications were intercepted and the data showed he supplied methamphetamines on seven occasion and marijuana at least once.

“A total of 2.1 grams of methamphetamines was supplied for about $2050,” Ms Murray said.

She said a further 1.95 grams was offered to be supplied for $2050.

Holt supplied an unspecified amount of marijuana for $240 on one occasion.

Ms Murray said police searched Holt’s Thangool residence on September 28, 2020, and his phone was seized.

Defence barrister Joseph Jacobs said his client had worked on properties in north Queensland between the ages 16 and 19 and had commenced a boiler maker apprenticeship before his mother purchased a pub in Middlemount and he managed that for her for two years.

Mr Jacobs said during that time, Holt became involved in bull riding.

He said Holt then purchased his own property, got married, had four children and ran the property for four years.

Mr Jacobs said Holt and his wife separated in 2013 and he struggled to cope with the breakdown of that relationship.

He said that was compounded when a new partner suffered a mental and physical disability in 2015 from a fall off one of Holt’s horses.

Mr Jacobs said that partner relocated to Brisbane and his client joined her.

It was there that Holt first started using drugs.

Mr Jacobs said Holt worked in the mines from 2017 onwards, but during the period leading up to the offending, he had lost his job due to his drug use and was selling drugs to pay for his own addiction.

Jye Holt.

He said the reason why there were no drugs found during the police search was because he had moved back in with his mother, had regained employment and had stopped using drugs.

Mr Jacobs said Holt had a 2.5 year old child with his current fiancee (not the injured now former partner).

Seven drug screens performed between August 2, 2021 and November 8, 2021, were provided to the court, along with two hair follicle tests on April 22, 2022, and July 20, 2022.

Judge Jeff Clarke said Holt showed he had the ability to refrain from returning to a lifestyle involving drugs.

He sentenced Holt to 21 months prison, suspended the sentence after 122 days served, declared 122 days presentence custody as time served and set an operational period of two years.