Man hit with $800 fine after Bundaberg fruit picking trip ends badly

All police had to do to arrest Bryden man was follow their noses, after an unmistakeable smell led them to his backpacker’s dorm.

All police had to do was follow their noses.

When officers noticed the characteristic smell of burning cannabis coming from a Bundaberg backpacker’s hostel dorm, they found two men asleep inside and drug paraphernalia strewn about the room, a court heard.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Trent Voigt told an Ipswich court a grinder and used bong were found on a camp chair at the dormitory, used as accommodation for fruit pickers.

Lawson David Snowy Evans, 28, a fruit picker from Bryden north of Ipswich, was found in possession of a clip seal sandwich bag with a small amount of cannabis on July 10.

He later admitted he had smoked cannabis using the bong, Sgt Voigt said.

Evans pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court to possession of cannabis, possession of drug utensils/pipe and obstructing police.

Lawson David Snowy Evans was evicted from a Bundaberg backpacker's.

Sgt Voigt said three days after the first incident, police were called to a different hostel, Dingo Blue, after a manager reported a drunk man was trying to fight other guests.

Police found Evans at the scene, where he become belligerent.

When police handcuffed him, Evans used his leg to trip a constable causing him to “spearhead headfirst into the ground”.

Sgt Voigt said the officer suffered a head wound.

Defence lawyer Erin Dwan said Evans also received an injury.

“He tells me he uses cannabis for personal use to sleep,” she said.

“He says the altercation with police was alcohol related.

“He had been hoping to work fruit picking up north. His dad rescued him and brought him home.”

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess fined Evans $800 and convicted him.