Tradie accidentally delivers coke bag to Toowoomba cop shop

A night out on the town ended badly for an elite Toowoomba school graduate, who accidentally walked into a police station soon after officers spotted him on CCTV buying a bag of cocaine.

A night out in Toowoomba ended badly for a young Goondiwindi man who walked into the back of a police station soon after officers caught him on CCTV buying a bag of cocaine.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard Willem Jacob Raymond was partying in town on a Friday night, September 15, when keen-eyed officers spotted his suspicious behaviour on CCTV.

Police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb said the 20-year-old was caught on City Safe cameras buying a bag of white powder from a woman along Jessie St.

“Police attended and intercepted the female, the defendant and another male left the area and were being followed by cameras,” he said.

Willem Jacob Raymond fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, October 16, after a big night on the town landed him with drug charges. Picture: Social media

Mr Brewster-Webb said the pair ended up walking down a driveway at the police station near the courthouse, which is where officers detained the pair.

“(Raymond) was detained in relation to another matter and asked if he had anything on him that he wanted to declare,” he said.

The university student and apprentice tradesman then handed over a 1.3g bag of cocaine to officers.

“He has no history… and unfortunately he was silly enough to walk into the back of the police station,” he said.

Solicitor Callum Wood, appearing as duty lawyer on behalf of McConnell & Saldumbide Criminal Lawyers, said the young man came from a good home and recently graduated from Toowoomba Grammar School.

“This was a lapse of judgment,” he said.

“He has learned his lesson and the shame of it all has him wanting to put it behind him.”

Mr Wood said the born and raised Goondiwindi man was enrolled in an Engineering Degree but was also completing a carpentry apprenticeship.

He noted Raymond had to step away from football after breaking his back, however was still involved with the Goondiwindi Rugby Union Club.

The court heard rather than dealing with the charge outside of court via a drug diversion program, Raymond chose to go to court.

Magistrate Kyna Morice told Raymond cocaine was a serious drug, hence why he was facing a serious charge.

“I’m sure there are many reasons why you do not want to do drug diversion,” she said.

“But hopefully after today, you reflect upon the seriousness of the matter and where your life will head in a different trajectory if you don’t clean your act up and make better decisions.”

Raymond pleaded guilty to possessing a dangerous drug and was fined $300.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Tradie accidentally delivers coke bag to Toowoomba cop shop