Finnley Ward charged with aggravated supply of drugs to underage girls

Police claim three girls were taken to hospital after being supplied narcotics by a former 18-year-old concreter.

Finnley Edward Ward faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video from the watch-house this week. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Sippy Downs teenager has been accused of supplying underage girls with drugs which police claim led to them going to hospital.

Finnley Edward Ward denied the offending to the court despite advice from his legal team during his bail application in Maroochydore Magistrates Court this week.

The 18-year-old was charged with 12 offences with police alleging he supplied three minors with cannabis and diazepam at a Sippy Downs home on May 17.

Court documents state Ward was arrested the following day and was allegedly found with marijuana, a pipe, digital scales and clip seal bags.

It is further alleged by police he used a Sippy Downs address to permit the supply of dangerous drugs.

He was charged with six counts of aggravated supply of dangerous drugs to a minor under 16 years, two of possessing property suspected of having been acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence and one of obstructing police, permitting use of place, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing drug utensils.

During his release application on Monday, police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris alleged there was strong evidence against the teenager which included Snapchat conversations, messages and statements from two of the children.

Ward leaving the watch-house on Monday afternoon. Picture: Sam Turner

She claimed another statement would be coming this week.

The court was told some of the allegations which included all three children needing to be taken to hospital where one could have suffered a seizure due to what they ingested at Ward’s home.

The police prosecutor said further testing was required to see what they took but said it was alleged there was cannabis and statements which included a reference to “pills”.

Sergeant Grigoris said when officers arrived at the Sippy Downs home to execute a search warrant, the 18-year-old allegedly obstructed police by hiding his phone in his underwear.

She said police had concerns Ward would interfere with witnesses and claimed when the children’s parents turned up at the Sippy Downs address after tracking the minors’ location through an application, the 18-year-old denied they were there.

He spent a night in custody before being granted bail. Picture: Sam Turner

The police prosecutor alleged Ward was not up front with police and tried to hide evidence.

Duty solicitor Michael Robinson said the charges would need to be dealt with in the Supreme Court which went towards a grant of bail due to risk the former concreter would spend too much time on remand.

He claimed prison was not an inevitable outcome if he was convicted of the offences as they stood.

Mr Robinson said the 18-year-old could be bailed to live back at the address on strict conditions which included no contact with the girls or any minors under the age of 16, unless incidental.

Magistrate Anna Smith agreed to grant Ward bail on those conditions along with requirements Ward report to police three times a week, be drug tested and not apply for a passport while on these charges.

His matters will return to court on July 21 and no pleas have been entered.