Robert John Walton jailed for Longreach drug trafficking operation

A Queensland drug trafficker who threatened to ‘hand out hidings’ to anyone who ‘dobbed on him’ has had his chest-puffing words read back to him in court. See them all here.

Man holding axe generic.

A drug trafficker who described himself as “the original gangster of this f — ing town” threatened to stab a customer who owed him money and “hand out hidings” to those who “dobbed on him”.

The full extent of Robert John Walton’s trafficking operation was unknown because he used encryption apps, the Supreme Court in Rockhampton heard on October 30.

Justice Graeme Crow said Walton was the main target of a police operation into drug trafficking in the Longreach region in 2022.

Walton’s phone was intercepted and an undercover officer was used to purchase marijuana from Walton who ran a street level business between April 6 and September 5 that year.

He started the business just months after being placed on a two-year probation order for drug offences.

Crown prosecutor Biana Volling said Walton, 40, referred to himself “the original gangster of this f---ing town” and spoke of using violence as part of his business including “handing out hidings” and violence against those who “dobbed on him”.

She said he threatened to stab one of his customers over a drug debt.

He also told one customer he thought himself to be an experienced drug dealer and in another conversation, claimed to teach the “new drug dealers” and everyone gave him “free reign” because he was “the f---ing man here”.

Justice Crow said Walton sold meth and marijuana, and attempted “to dabble in MDMA but that was unsuccessful due to the lack of quality”.

He said the defendant told one person he had used various methods to avoid police detections including code words and encrypted messaging applications.

“You were paranoid about police detection,” Justice Crow said.

Generic image of drug supply.

Walton searched online, and screenshot the results, about how to detect if a phone had been ‘tapped’ by authorities.

He expressed concerned about detectives being in town and the possibility they had sniffer dogs.

“At one point, (Walton) told a customer he’d not be selling anymore … he’d go back to being an alcoholic that bashes s--- druggo junkie dog scum,” Justice Crow said.

“He told them: “I am wise in the war of drugs. I know how to make everyone in the game kill each other from the bulls--t I feed them.””

Police were able to identify 18 customers – one of which was an undercover police officer – to which Walton made 35 supplies.

Walton’s residence was searched on October 29, 2022, and he was arrested.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said her client’s parents separated when he was six-years-old and his father was murdered when he was 12.

Ms Marsden said about the time his father was murdered, Walton was exposed to drugs by a “trusted adult” and he was introduced to ‘hard drugs’ when he was 19.

She said Walton, a father of five, was using meth by age 31.

The court heard Walton has three brothers and a sister who live in remote Queensland and the Gold Coast.

Walton’s seven-page criminal history including convictions for drugs and a dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while adversely intoxicated.

Justice Crow that driving conviction related to an incident when Walton was working as a shearer and was asked to drive a workmate’s vehicle home.

There was a rollover and the lady lost her arm.

Walton was sentenced to three years and nine months prison for that offence in 2013.

He pleaded guilty on October 30 to one count of trafficking drugs and was sentenced to four years prison with parole eligibility on December 29, 2025.