Shannon Ryan Barlow: Known neighbourhood drug fiend quits cold turkey for his four kids

The Zillmere man became addicted to methamphetamine at just 16 years old. Now decades of drug abuse and four children later, the court heard he’s finally made a change.

A Zillmere man is battling to overcome decades-long methamphetamine addiction for the sake of his four children, the Sandgate Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.

Shannon Ryan Barlow, 44, had become known to police in Brisbane’s northern bayside region for his frequent abuse of dangerous substances.

The court heard Barlow was motivated to quit drugs cold turkey after he had some renewed contact with his two younger children.

He appeared at court to plead guilty to four charges, including two counts of possession of dangerous drugs, one count of contravention of a probation order and one count of failing to appear at court.

Police prosecutor sergeant Henri Rantala told the court Barlow was drowsily walking along Coxen St with a female companion and a flash new bike when he came to the attention of police on June 24, 2020.

“The push bike looked very similar to one that had been stolen the night before,” Sgt Rantala said.

“The woman was talking to herself, and they both appeared to be drug-affected.”

A search revealed a small quantity of cannabis in a clip seal bag in his wallet, which Barlow said he used to self-medicate persistent pain.

The court heard he was caught with drugs again on June 27, when police were called to a disturbance at his Zillmere home and found a small quantity of cannabis on the coffee table.

The offences constituted a breach of Barlow’s probation order and Magistrate Jennifer Batts described his engagement in the supervision program as “appalling”.

Barlow appeared at the Sandgate Courthouse on Wednesday.

Defence lawyer Rhys Foster from KLM Solicitors told the court his client started using meth at the age of 16 and became a father to his first child at the age of 21.

Barlow hasn’t had custody of his two youngest children for eight years, during which time he fell “back into old habits”, lost his job as a foreman and racked up a “significant” criminal record.

But not all hope is lost, according to Mr Foster.

Barlow quit drugs “cold turkey” eight months ago after a visit with his children encouraged him to be better, for them.

Mr Foster said the claims were substantiated by the notable lack of criminal charges in the months since the June offences.

Magistrate Jennifer Batts said she could see Barlow was making positive ground and urged him to stay on track or face imprisonment.

Barlow was resentenced to 12 months of probation and fined $200.

Convictions were recorded.