Scott Anthony Funch sentenced in court for possessing methamphetamine

A Capricorn Coast father used money from the sale of his house to purchase a large amount of methamphetamine following the death of his young son to brain cancer and the breakdown of his marriage. Here’s what happened to him in court.

A Capricorn Coast father used money from the sale of his house to purchase a large amount of methamphetamine following the death of his young son to brain cancer and the breakdown of his marriage.

Scott Anthony Funch, 45, pleaded guilty in the Rockhampton Supreme Court on July 28 to two counts of possessing utensils or pipes that had been used and one count each of possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 2g, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a thing used in connection with a drug offence.

Crown Prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said Funch was in possession of 8.042g of methamphetamine, which was found in his bedroom when police executed a search warrant at an his home on Tanby Road on March 1, 2021.

During the search, police also found 14.9g of marijuana, a bong, four glass pipes and a hand grinder in Funch’s bedroom, as well as three sets of scales, a pair of scissors, a quantity of clip seal bags and a straw in the bathroom.

Funch was not present at the time of the search.

Scott Anthony Funch, 45, appeared in the Rockhampton Supreme Court on July 28, 2022.

The court heard Funch attended Yeppoon Police Station on March 2 and told police the items found in the main bedroom and bathroom were his.

He stated he had recently come into a sum of money and was not wanting to regularly deal with drug dealers and purchased a large amount of meth in one go for his own personal use to last him a year.

Ms Lawrence said Funch committed further drug offences while on bail.

The court heard Funch was sentenced in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on August 12, 2021 for drug offending.

Ms Lawrence said Funch was still struggling with what led to his drug use.

“It would be appropriate for the defendant to be placed on some sort of supervision to assist him with his rehabilitation,” she said.

Crown prosecutor Julie Marsden said her client purchased the drugs as a result of the death of his young son and the breakdown of his marriage and family.

“When his property sold he used the money from the sale of his property to buy the drugs,” Ms Marsden said.

“There is no commerciality alleged.”

The court heard Funch’s son had been diagnosed with brain cancer at five years old and died in March 2019, which affected Funch’s mental health.

“My client and his then wife nursed their son through the last stages of his illness and that has had a very tragic affect on him and his family and his mental health,” Ms Marsden said.

The court heard Funch, who until recently worked for SunWater, suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Ms Marsden said her client had been “drug free” since October 2021 and intended to remain clean.

“Since his offending he has taken considerable steps to address his offending and ensure there would be no repetition,” she said.

“He has engaged with his medical practitioners and councillors.”

Funch was sentenced to 20 months’ prison with immediate release on parole.