Rhys Gaukroger, 30, busted with 730g of marijuana after supplying drugs to four people

The private school graduate moved to Rockhampton in 2015, the same year he started using meth.

A Rockhampton man with no criminal record only had his criminal activity discovered when police investigated the contents of another drug user’s phone.

Rhys Gaukroger, 30, pleaded guilty on December 2 in Rockhampton District Court to six counts of supplying a dangerous drug, one of possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 500g, two of possessing items used in the commission of a crime and one of possessing drug utensils.

Crown prosecutor Harriet Hall-Pearce said Gaukroger’s offending, which took place over four years, was detected after police searched another person’s phone and discovered he had supplied the Gracemere drug user with 130g of marijuana.

She said police searched Gaukroger’s Frenchville residence on February 7, 2021, locating 13 clip seal bags and three cryovac bags containing 730g of marijuana.

Police also located marijuana seeds in a bowl.

Gaukroger told police he was using marijuana to wean himself of ice (methamphetamines).

Gaukroger’s phone showed he had supplied four people drugs on five occasions with at least three supplies completed with one offer to supply 454g of drugs to one customer.

Ms Hall-Pearce said Gaukroger had no criminal record and spent no time in presentence custody.

Defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said his client was from a good family, with his father and sister working in the mines, and he grew up in Moranbah.

He said Gaukroger’s parents were in court in support.

Mr Ahlstrand said Gaukroger had been in a four-year relationship, which was characterised by drugs, at the time of search warrant.

He said that relationship was over and he had been in a new one for six-months.

Mr Ahlstrand said the private school graduate had done an apprenticeship in carpentry and had tickets and licenses to drive earthmoving equipment and trucks and had mostly worked with Bartlem Construction Services while living in Rockhampton.

He said Gaukroger moved to Rockhampton in 2015, the same year he started using meth.

Mr Ahlstrand said his client had supplied drugs to his friends only.

Mr Ahlstrand said Gaukroger had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2010 and was compliant with his medication until he started using meth.

He said his mental health symptoms had decreased since he stopped using drugs.

“It has been a wake up call,” Mr Ahlstrand said.

Gaukroger was sentenced to nine months prison, wholly suspended and operational for two years.