James McConnell: Brisbane man in court for big drug bust

A Brisbane man’s drug problem keeps getting worse and worse, a court has heard, as the consequences and convictions stack up.

A Brisbane labourer was found in a vehicle with five different types of dangerous drugs, two of them in commercial quantities, as well as other items including a flick-knife, bong and scales, a court has heard.

Nundah man James Terrence McConnel, 24, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to three drug-related offences.

They included two counts of aggravated possession of a Schedule 1 dangerous drug and one of possessing a dangerous drug.

The court heard all offences were detected following a police search of a vehicle pulled over at Chermside in which McConnell was a passenger in about 8pm on November 30, 2019.

McConnell was “nervous, pale and clammy” and did not make eye contact with the officers, the court was told.

When asked to turn out his waistband, McConnell attempted to twist away to hide a clipseal bag containing 26.45g of cannabis, which was detected by officers.

Nundah man James Terrence McConnell, 24, during a big night out in Fortitude Valley. Picture: Facebook

He then threw a black object into the scrub behind him, prompting his handcuffing.

It contained a pouch, inside of which was about 14g pure MDMA contained within 20.9g of brown crystals, about 2g pure methamphetamine in slightly more than 3g of substance, and smaller quantities of ketamine, cocaine and cannabis.

In his passenger footwell allegedly were items including digital scales, clipseal bags, and a stolen bank card.

Also allegedly located on McConnell’s person was a quantity of cash, a flick-knife, and a bong.

The items in the footwell and on McConnell’s person are the subject of charges still before the Magistrates Court.

McConnell admitted to police he was high on drugs, the court heard.

Messages seen on his phone’s home screen contained drug references.

McConnell during happier times. Picture: Facebook

He spent three days remanded in pre-sentence custody and a further 15 days from June 25 last year after he failed to appear for his sentence.

It was accepted by the court the drugs were for a mixed commercial-personal purpose.

The court was told the current matters represented an “concerning escalation” of his drug offending.

McConnell was previously before the courts multiple times for possessing drugs including cannabis, LSD and MDMA.

He had three convictions for drug-driving and had been sentenced to a variety of orders including probation and suspended imprisonment.

His current offences were committed while on probation.

Defence counsel Isaac Munsie told the court his client had been addicted to dangerous drugs for a substantial period of time, especially methamphetamine which he became hooked on from his first hit in his late teens.

Mr Munsie said McConnell checked himself into a Sunshine Coast rehabilitation centre in June which was why he missed his previous sentence, promoting a warrant for his arrest.

He said his client had been clean for just shy of five months now and worked as a casual labourer for a labour-hire firm, but had an offer of full-time employment.

Mr Munsie said his client enjoyed the support of his mother, brother and sister.

Justice Kerri Mellifont QC sentenced McConnell to two years’ imprisonment with immediate court-ordered parole, taking into account his 18 days spent on remand, and placed him on two years’ probation.