Robert Conrad Hiscox jailed for Rockhampton marijuana supplies

A long-term marijuana consumer has had their first forced abstinence from the illicit drug after police staked out his house.

Cannabis clipseal bag generic image. Picture: iStock/Bastiaan Slabbers

A long-term marijuana consumer has had their first forced abstinence from the illicit drug after police staked out his house regularly to intercept anyone leaving the joint.

Robert Conrad Hiscox, 50, has fronted courts for the past 28 years for multiple drug offences including possessing and supplying drugs but it was only last year that Queensland Police Service officers busted him with a charge that led to him spending time in actual custody, Rockhampton District Court heard last week.

Hiscox, who had consumed marijuana since he was 18 years old, fronted court for three counts of supplying a dangerous drug from February and August in 2023.

Judge Jeff Clarke said police found one person possessing 83 grams of marijuana in three bags with Hiscox’s fingerprints on them after leaving his Rockhampton residence on February 17, 2023.

Another person was intercepted on August 2 possessing 13 grams in one bag and a third person on August 16 possessing 15 grams after both left Hiscox’s place.

Police raided his home twice – the first time they were on their way to search his home when they intercepted the third person busted with drugs after leaving Hiscox’s place.

They found 198 grams of marijuana in Hiscox’s possession along with $3690 cash, clip seal bags, digital scales and foil.

Police also seized his phone that day.

Judge Clarke said Hiscox, whose income was from Centrelink, lied to police about the money, claiming it was from a gambling win.

Police searched his residence again on January 5, 2024, and located a further 64 grams of marijuana in three bags and $625 cash.

Two phones were seized and revealed another supply of drugs from May where Hiscox gave a female one gram of marijuana for $20.

He was on probation at the time of the first supply.

Defence barrister Maree Willey said Hiscox grew up in the Proserpine and Bowen area and worked in manual labour until about the time his brother died by suicide.

She said he had attended counselling for drugs and personal trauma in the past but did not find it helpful “in any great way”.

Ms Willey said he had abstained in prison and planned to continue that path upon his release by going to live with friends who don’t use drugs and live out of town so he is away from that environment.

Hiscox pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying drugs, two of possessing drugs, two of possessing tainted property, two of possessing drug utensils, one of possessing anything used in a crime and one of possessing anything used in a drug offence.

He was sentenced to 322 days prison with 322 days presentence custody declared as time served.