WA oil rigger Jai Michael James Clarke busted with MDMA, cocaine

A young man busted with over a huge stash of drugs in Rockhampton has turned his life around after moving interstate and gaining employment on an oil rig.

A young man busted with over 140 pills of MDMA plus cocaine has turned his life around after moving interstate and gaining employment on an oil rig.

Jai Michael James Clarke, 24, pleaded guilty on December 1 in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton to two counts of possessing a dangerous drug in excess of two grams, three counts of possessing a dangerous drug and one count each of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime and contravene an order to provide information to access an electronic device.

Police executed a search warrant on a Norman Gardens home on October 29, 2020, where Clarke was residing at the time.

Clarke was found in possession of 145 red pills, containing 8.598g of pure MDMA in 57g of substance, along with 3.57g of pure cocaine in 12.48g of substance, over $18,000 cash, 11g of marijuana and 30 tablets of another drug in the fridge.

Police also seized his phone and laptop.

The next day, police attended the residence and requested passwords for applications on the phone.

The court heard Clarke claimed he didn’t know the password and hadn’t used it in a long time, however forensic analysis showed the app had been used the day before the raid.

Crown prosecutor Joshua Phillips said the possession of the MDMA was predominantly for commercial purposes, while the cocaine was for personal use.

The court heard Clarke broke a finger, lost his job and turned to selling drugs.

Defence barrister Sheridan Shaw said Clarke had a turbulent upbringing.

The court heard Clarke was introduced to drugs by his father, who had spent time in prison.

He had primarily been raised by his mother and stepfather, but lived with his grandmother in Charters Towers while completing Year 12.

It was during this time he started using marijuana and he was told once he finished Year 12, if he didn’t find a job in two weeks, he would be kicked out.

From there, he relocated to Broken Hill and under took a diesel fitter’s apprenticeship but broke a finger, stopped work and moved away from family while using more drugs.

Ms Shaw said since Clarke returned to live with family – his mother and stepfather – in Western Australia, he had returned negative drug test results and was now working offshore on an oil rig.

Clarke underwent counselling in Perth and attended a medical service for drug rehabilitation, which had closed his file as it considered him rehabilitated.

His family travelled from WA to be support him at his sentencing.

Clarke, who had no relevant criminal record, was sentenced to three years prison with immediate parole.

Justice Graeme Crow said Clarke’s negative drug test results, rehabilitation documents and steady job provided him with “every reason to think you will be one of the rare cases” where he will not been back in court.