Lockyer Valley dad-of-two Zaine Ritter jailed for meth possession

A Kensington Grove dad who vowed to quit drugs has been warned by an Ipswich magistrate: “Don’t be surprised when the knock goes on your door”.

Zaine Rodger Ritter, 30, faced Ipswich Magistrates Court charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs. FILE PHOTO

A Lockyer Valley dad who vowed to quit drugs has been warned by a magistrate: “Don’t be surprised when the knock goes on your door”.

Zaine Rodger Ritter, 30, faced Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 30, charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, one count of possessing utensils or pipes that had been used and one count of unlawful possession of category D/H/R weapons.

The court heard that Mr Ritter was found with 1.1g of methamphetamine on August 4 last year in Kensington Grove.

He pleaded guilty to all five counts of charges.

Acting magistrate Paul Byrne said it was impressive to hear Mr Ritter wanted to keep away from drugs after using for years, but warned him temptation was everywhere.

“You’ll very easily find and run into people heavily involved in the drug culture wherever you get, including you’re supposed to be with somebody solid to stay,” he said.

“Those people will be everywhere and one of the differences between a lot of things and you – you’ve got to realise this.

“If there’s drug trouble in the area where you are, don’t be surprised when the knock goes on at your door.”

Mr Byrne said there was a principle people who had committed offences such as Mr Ritter’s be punished and that was what the community expected.

“(However) you spent a lot of time in custody,” he said.

He sentenced Mr Ritter to two months’ jail, taking into account the 300 days he had spent in custody.

He granted Mr Ritter immediate parole eligibility.