Jason Thomas Cousins remanded in custody over drug supply charges

The alleged offender sat with his head in his hands as the court heard details of monitored prison phone calls allegedly discussing the delivery of parcels containing drugs.

The prosecution said Bowen man Jason Thomas Cousins was “unsuitable candidate” for bail. Photo: Facebook.

A Bowen man with an “extensive record” of drug offences responded with “f*ck youse” after a magistrate told him he would remain in custody as his case proceeds to a higher court.

Facing eight charges of supplying dangerous drugs, Jason Thomas Cousins was refused bail at Bowen Magistrates Court on May 11, where he appeared via videolink from a Queensland correctional facility.

The court heard police intercepted a parcel addressed to Cousins containing a “large amount” of methylamphetamine, while he was on parole for previous drug trafficking offences.

Messages from Cousins’ mobile phone allegedly showed he had set up an Australia Post digital ID to receive a package, and monitored phone calls between Cousins and an associate allegedly contained discussions of the delivery of parcels to PO boxes and letter boxes.

Jason Thomas Cousins was on parole at the time of the alleged offending. Photo: Facebook.

Defence lawyer Cleo Rewald made an application for bail on the basis that the Crown’s case for the supply charges was “not the strongest,” and that strict reporting conditions, an ankle monitor, and a curfew could mitigate any risks of Cousins reoffending upon his release.

The package “could have been sent from anywhere,” Ms Rewald argued, and Cousins “certainly didn’t have control of it, considering it hadn’t been delivered”, she said.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors said Cousins was “absolutely an unacceptable risk of committing further offences” and an “unsuitable candidate” for bail, given the circumstances of the alleged offending.

Sergeant Myors said it would be “absolutely inappropriate” to release Cousins to live in Bowen, where his brother also lived, as “there’s been numerous intelligence reports that the brother is also involved and has access to the drugs”.

Further intelligence gathered since Cousins’ arrest had strengthened the prosecution’s case enough that they intended to upgrade the supply charges to trafficking charges, Sgt Myors said.

Magistrate Ron Muirhead said it would be up to a higher court to determine the strength of the prosecution’s case, but agreed Cousins should be remanded in custody until his next court appearance, on September 7.

“In view of your record, and the fact that you’ve been charged with serious offences, and the prosecution say they have a strong case against you, my view is that bail should be refused on the grounds that there is a risk that you may reoffend, and the level of risk is unacceptable,” he said.