Magistrate: ‘Are you ready to go to jail?’

A man hoping to finalise his charges and go home got a rude shock when the magistrate asked if he was ready to go to jail.

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A Magnetic Island man was shocked when he was asked by a magistrate if he was ready to go to prison when he fronted the bar table wanting to finalise his matters.

Raymond Gregory John Knudsen, 45, faced the Townsville Magistrates Court on Thursday facing six charges including supplying dangerous drugs.

He indicated he wished to plead guilty to all his charges except for the supply charge, which he intended to contest.

Magistrate Ross Mack interjected when Knudsen voiced his intention and said “are you ready to go to jail” after the court heard there were two warrants on file for his arrest.

The court heard the father of three failed to appear to face the charges last year which he received a hefty fine for on Thursday.

After initially facing court without seeking legal advice, Mr Mack stood the matter down until Knudsen had seen a lawyer, advising him he was unlikely to receive bail.

When the matter was brought back before the court, duty lawyer Kate Koelmeyer asked for the charges to be adjourned as the amount of cannabis Knudsen was alleged to have in his possession was contested.

Mr Mack fined Knudsen $500 for failing to appear and adjourned the remaining charges to June 15 for mention.

Originally published as Magistrate: ‘Are you ready to go to jail?’