Cory Michael Ward: Dad uses tax refund to stock up on meth

A Brisbane dad, who got busted walking around with 18 grams of pure meth, bought the drugs in bulk after cashing in a $23,000 tax return, a court has heard.

A Brisbane dad, who got busted walking around with 18 grams of pure meth, bought the drugs in bulk after cashing in a $23,000 tax return, a court has heard.

Geebung man Cory Michael Ward, 33, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard police executed a search warrant at a home in Allenstown and found Ward asleep in his bedroom, but his co-accused Summer Blanche Mary Lucas, 21, wasn’t there on August 16, 2020.

During the search, police found a cigarette packet containing 0.428 grams of pure cocaine that belonged to Ward.

Geebung man Cory Michael Ward, 33.

They also found a bag containing 8.115 grams of pure cocaine that belonged to Ms Lucas.

The court heard Ward was still on bail for that offence when police busted him with a “significant amount” of meth in Ashgrove on June 2 last year.

Police were conducting patrols when they noticed Ward leaving an apartment block known to them and asked him what he was doing.

Ward told police he was picking up some personal belongings from some friends and provided police with a false name.

They asked to see his driver’s licence, and he attempted to run away.

He was apprehended after a short chase and found in possession of 18.157 grams of pure meth.

Ward told police he had recently cashed in a $23,000 tax payout and spent the last bit buying drugs in bulk for his personal use.

Ward’s lawyer tendered a number of clean drug tests to show his client had stopped using drugs since the offence.

He said Ward had sought out counselling to better himself, secured stable employment and was now playing an active role in his child’s life.

Justice Kerri Mellifont sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment suspended for a period of two and a half years. The 62 days he spent in pre-sentence custody were declared time served.

His co-accused Summer Blanche Mary Lucas pleaded guilty last September to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with a drug offence and possession of utensils or pipes etc for use.

She was sentenced to two years six months with an immediate parole release date.