Andrew Leonard Robert Carl Vernon sentenced for mobile meth lab

A 33-year-old Tewantin man had his clandestine mobile lab and drug deals discovered by police after he was found asleep in his car along a Maroochydore street.

A 33-year-old Tewantin drug dealer had his mobile meth lab exposed after police found him asleep in his car with his entire drug operation in his back seat.

Andrew Leonard Robert Carl Vernon received immediate parole on Tuesday after his Breaking Bad-style set-up was uncovered by police on the side of the road in Maroochydore on August 26, 2020.

Maroochydore District Court heard Vernon woke up when approached by police who saw him asleep in the driver’s seat.

Public prosecutor Elle Bolam told the court a search of his car discovered 1.76g of pseudoephedrine, glassware, test tubes, beakers, jars and chemicals.

A forensic analysis after his arrest uncovered more about the “clandestine laboratory” where police found iodine, meth and red phosphorus.

Combined together the ingredients could make 1.58g of meth, the court heard.

Ms Bolam said less than a gram of marijuana, several phones, syringes and clipseal bags were found along with an Apple iPad littered with drug dealing messages.

The court was told Vernon offered to sell 3.5g of cocaine for $1000, another to offload ketamine and other offers on tick and to settle a debt.

Judge Glen Cash read one of the text messages to the court which read “can you get a b (sic)” to which Vernon replied “of course I can, I think about a grand”.

Ms Bolam told the court Vernon’s vehicle had been searched again on October 9, 2020 in Pomona as it was suspected to be stolen where they found a homemade condenser, 1g of meth and glassware.

Andrew Leonard Vernon.

Police eventually arrested Vernon in February, 2021 after his parole was suspended.

Vernon’s criminal history was littered with multiple entries including a disturbing public nuisance on December 9, 2017 where the 33-year-old tried to cut a seat open on a bus with a syringe while twitching on ice.

Defence barrister David Crews said the aspiring roofer had spent 14 months in custody drug free and had plans to move to Kandanga near Gympie to escape the “drug culture on the Sunshine Coast”.

Vernon pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying drugs, two of possessing drugs, two of possessing anything for use in the commission of crime and two of unlawfully possessing a relevant substance.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail but given immediate parole with 46 days of pre sentence custody declared as time served.

Convictions were recorded.