Meth-fuelled mechanic James Malone claims COVID drove him to ‘rock bottom’

A successful businessman and father lost his car, his business and his freedom after a rapid descent into drug use and crime, a court has heard.

A Logan mobile mechanic has lost his car, his business and his freedom all because of a “never say no” attitude that led him down a dark path of drug use and crime.

James Frederick Malone, 33, pleaded guilty to nine charges at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, contravening police direction and driving while under the influence of methamphetamine and gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

James Frederick Malone pleaded guilty to nine charges at the Beenleigh Courthouse.

The court heard the father-of-two was a successful business owner with a clean criminal record when COVID hit Queensland, plunging the state into total lockdown and wreaking havoc on his bottom line.

“(Malone’s) business was devastated,” said defence counsel James Wallace of Wallace O’Hagan Lawyers.

“It hit him very hard, physically, mentally and emotionally.

“It also coincided with his illicit drug use.”

The court heard Malone, who had occasionally and recreationally used both cannabis and methamphetamine in the past, quickly became a full-blown addict.

In the grips of addiction, Malone began to make “incredibly stupid decisions”, the worst of which involved using his work van as a getaway car for some “associates” who had gotten mixed up in stealing cars.

On October 8, Malone was tracked by Polair as he drove through residential Logan streets at 100km/hr, overtaking cars on double white lines, running through red traffic lights and causing other drivers to use evasive action to avoid a high speed collision.

Police used a tyre deflation device to stop Malone, whose car was later impounded.

Mr Wallace estimated Malone lost around $40,000 worth of work equipment stored in the car, which has remained significantly damaged in the impound lot since the incident.

“It was only by a miracle no one was killed,” the police prosecutor told the court.

Malone’s mother provided a character reference to the court that was read aloud as the Magistrate handed down his sentence.

“He’s not a bad person, he just couldn’t say no,” Malone’s mother said, as read by the Magistrate.

Mr Wallace said Malone characterised the offending as his “rock bottom” and has since sought professional help get back on the straight and narrow.

Malone was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for an operational period of two years.