Michael John Alderson pleads guilty to drug charges in Supreme Court

Texts between a man and a builder have revealed a glimpse into the Sunshine Coast drug world.

Michael John Alderson was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Brisbane last year.

Court documents have revealed the criminal dealings of a Sunshine Coast builder who was offered a luxury watch to clear an outstanding drug debt.

This glimpse into the Sunshine Coast drug world was revealed in newly published sentencing remarks this week from Michael John Alderson’s sentence in the Supreme Court of Brisbane last year on drug charges.

Justice Tom Sullivan said the Buderim builder was under police surveillance on June 27, 2022, when he was with another man and a woman at Forest Lake.

The following day police arrested Alderson with a bag, which had close to $2500 in cash inside along with a Rolex watch and a container labelled “Balls Power” filled with various tablets.

Alderson outside court in Maroochydore in February. Picture: Sam Turner

Court documents state following a search of a seized vehicle, police found an unlocked Apple iPhone, a vial containing cannabis oil, a laser, notebooks and a small amount of meth in a cigarette packet.

Six balloons containing 2g overall of alprazolam tablet fragments were also found.

Following the 30-year-old’s arrest, detectives analysed his phone which uncovered messages on WhatsApp and Signal.

Justice Sullivan said Alderson arranged to source money from another man to obtain drugs, while the man also stated he would retrieve money from customers for previous drug deals to pay the Buderim man.

Another conversation showed the man telling Alderson he had $6500 for payment but owed $8900 for “drink”, which is a common street name for GHB.

A third conversation depicted Alderson asking the same man when he intended to pay the rest of his “drug debt”.

Sentencing remarks stated the man told the Buderim builder he intended to sell a Rolex watch, before he offered it to Alderson to clear $9000 from his drug debt. He also offered to sell the 30-year-old marijuana.

Alderson was sentenced in the Supreme Court of Queensland at Brisbane.

Almost a year later on May 9, 2023, police searched his Buderim home following his arrest for unrelated matters.

During the search police found 12g of pure meth concealed in a clip seal bag at the back of a cabinet.

Justice Sullivan said Alderson was being prosecuted on the basis the meth found was for a mixed purpose being personal and commercial use.

Alderson spent 631 days in custody on remand before he pleaded guilty to multiple charges including possessing and supplying dangerous drugs.

The 30-year-old spent considerable time behind bars on remand. Picture: Sam Turner

Justice Sullivan said the first stint stretched from June 28, 2022 to November 6, 2022, while the second was from May 9, 2023 to September 18, 2024.

The court was told the 30-year-old worked predominantly in the building industry and had employment as a concreter lined up for when he was released.

The Supreme Court Judge found Alderson had spent enough time behind bars, however urged the 30-year-old to pursue a life of rehabilitation and employment.

Alderson was jailed for three years but granted him immediate parole on September 19 last year, due to time served.