Kim Beech jailed for wholesale trafficking operation

A former real estate agent behind a “wholesale trafficking” operation who traded drugs for sex and buried cash in his garden also terrorised a woman driving her toddlers by throwing beer stubbies at them along the road way, a court has heard.

Kim Buckley Beech.

A former real estate agent behind a “wholesale trafficking” operation who traded meth for sex and buried drug cash in his garden also terrorised a woman driving her toddlers by throwing beer stubbies at them along the road way.

Brisbane Supreme Court heard on Tuesday that Hervey Bay’s Kim Buckley Beech was the target of a police operation probing the trafficking of methamphetamine in the Wide Bay area.

Police used surveillance and telephone intercepts to build their case against the UK-born Beech who mostly sold 8-balls, or 3.5 grams, but in one transaction offloaded three ounces of meth.

Kim Beech

Crown prosecutor Chris Cook said Beech, whose drug network involved his wife and daughter, sold ounces for $12,000 but also offered it at a discounted $11,000k at different times.

Beech utilised female customers to become local suppliers, providing them with meth and customers in return for sex, the court heard.

Mr Cook said the 63-year-old engaged in “wholesale trafficking” for just under nine months starting June 2020

The court heard the business was profitable and involved Beech bringing substantial quantities of meth into the Wide Bay region from Brisbane.

There were up to 141 transactions in one month alone and at one stage an associate was warehousing 10 ounces of meth for Beech, Mr Cook said.

Coded communications were used by Beech including the phrase “meeting for drinks” to describe drug activity, the court heard.

When police raided his property in February 2021 they found almost $50,000 including $36,000 buried in the front garden.

“This was a significant business … it was profitable and your honour knows too well the misery methylamphetamine causes in the community,” Mr Cook said.

Beech pleaded guilty to trafficking, supplying drugs, obtaining property from trafficking, possessing anything in connection with trafficking, wilful damage, common assault and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

The non-drug charges related to a serious road rage incident on Maryborough – Hervey Bay Road at Pialba in December 2020.

Kim Buckley Beech sentenced for trafficking. Source: Facebook

The court heard a mother was driving her three children aged 14, four and three when she attempted to overtake Beech who swerved, braked suddenly and erratically increased his speed.

He followed the woman for a protracted time and threw multiple beer bottles at the car.

“The circumstances of the offending were serious … but when considered subjectively from the perspective of the complaint, they were terrifying,” Justice Frances Williams said.

The court heard Beech had an extensive criminal history that included previous convictions for supplying drugs and road rage.

Barrister Rick Taylor said his client had an impulsive personality type and had been abandoned by his mother after shortly moving to Australia from England when he was 14.

Beech left school in year 8 and experienced brutality.

“Unfortunately Mr Beech had a very cruel start to life and his criminal history reflects that,” he said.

Mr Taylor said Beech had worked consistently to support his large family including in real estate and greyhound training which he did for 25 years.

Justice Williams said there was no direct evidence Beech was remorseful however he did accept he acted poorly in the road rage matter.

Beech was sentenced to 7.5 years for the trafficking and one year for the dangerous operation to be served cumulatively. She disqualified him from driving him for six months.

Justice Williams set his patrol eligibility date as March 24 2026.

Wife Diane Therese Beech was on Tuesday sentenced for assisting Beech on certain occasions and his daughter Jade Therese Beech will be sentenced on Wednesday the court heard.