John Leslie Palmer sentenced for involvement in Aroona drug bust
Cash wrapped in Christmas paper, marijuana for pain relief and MDMA and cocaine to “experiment with” were discovered when police kicked down a Sunshine Coast dad’s door at dawn.
Police & Courts
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A Sunshine Coast dad copped a “wake up call” when police kicked in his front door at sunrise for drug raid and discovered his stash of marijuana and cocaine.
John Leslie Palmer, 58, is the second person to face court following a major drug bust in the sleepy Caloundra suburb of Aroona on July 13.
Palmer appeared in the Caloundra Magistrates Court on Wednesday, August 9, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of drug possession, and one each of producing drugs and possessing used drug utensils.
Police prosecutor Stephen Potter Police prosecutor Stephen Potter told Caloundra Magistrates Court police searched the Aroona home at 5.30am on July 13.
The early morning raid uncovered cash hidden in different places including wrapped in Christmas paper and inside two vaults, a Woolworths bag and the garage, he said.
Renovation documents, credit cards and mobile phones were found also, he said.
Police then found a stash of drugs including chopped marijuana, a marijuana plant, marijuana seeds, MDMA tablets and cocaine, as well as a bong, grinder, glass plate and a straw.
Sergeant Potter said Palmer told police the drug utensils and credit cards were his, as was the marijuana, marijuana seeds, cocaine and some of the MDMA tablets.
He said he knew nothing about the money in the garage.
Palmer was described to the court as a “social (drug) user”.
Lawyer Nick Crawford said someone else had admitted to owning the money found, and his client had not been charged in relation to that.
He told the court the drug bust was a “wake up call” for his client, who had both the front and back doors of his home kicked in during the search.
Mr Crawford said the marijuana was used as a pain relief method for a shoulder injury, and the other drugs Palmer had “experimented with”.
Palmer was born in England but grew up in Melbourne, he said, before moving to the Sunshine Coast to finish school.
He now runs an electrical business where his sons are employed.
He was fined $1500 for all charges.
Convictions were not recorded.
Adrian John Doessel faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday, August 4, in relation to the drug bust, and did not entered pleas to his charges.
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