Detective’s son found guilty of drug-fuelled burglary

The son of a Queensland Police Detective has been jailed following a series of destructive and drug-fuelled offences over a six-month period.

The son of a Queensland Police Detective was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday following a series of destructive and drug-fuelled offences.

Caboolture man Ethan Ben-Anthony Mcleod, 25, pleaded guilty to 12 offences spanning from April to October of 2020, during which time he was under the influence of “a cocktail of illicit substances”.

Ethan Mcleod was found guilty of 12 offences at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Mcleod “made a series of bad decisions and his life spiralled out of control” when he started to use drugs to “self-medicate for the stress of not being able to see his children” during Queensland’s initial COVID lockdown of 2020.

On June 19, at the height of his addiction, Mcleod broke into a Narangba home and stole a computer, then on October 26 crashed his car into three power poles at Deception Bay while driving under the influence.

He was further found in possession of a knife in a public place, a category A, B or M weapon and a category D, H or R weapon.

The court heard Mcleod, a father of twin boys with a limited criminal history, had been working hard to turn his life around following the arrest.

His lawyer told the court he’d attended two rehabilitation centres and actively engaged with mental health professionals to kick his drug addiction.

READ MORE LOCAL TRUE CRIME

Repeat offender blamed young son’s ADD for violent assault with spoon

Police drew guns on machete-wielding grandfather, court heard

Witness statement reveals shock details of strangulation accusation

Magistrate Louise Shephard recognised Mcleod was doing everything he could to address the underlying causes of his substance abuse and noted a reference from a medical practitioner which attested to his detox and strong engagement with services.

The court further heard Mcleod had the strong support of his mother, a Detective working for the Queensland Police Service.

Mcleod was sentenced to 15 months probation and no criminal convictions were recorded.