Steven Julian Lawla sentenced in Townsville Supreme Court for dangerous drug possession
A 48-year-old man with a criminal record spanning three decades and multiple states has found himself back in Townsville’s Supreme Court.
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A miner who has a criminal record spanning decades and multiple states has been sentenced once again after police found dangerous drugs at his home and storage shed, a court has heard.
Steven Julian Lawla appeared by videolink in the Townsville Supreme Court and pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a weapon and a string of drug related offences including possession of a dangerous drug.
Crown prosecutor Ashley Gaden said police executed a search of his Townsville home and a storage unit under his name in December 2023.
The court heard during the search of the two locations they found just over 15 grams of pure methamphetamine, an air rifle, six stolen identification cards, $1,150 of cash and drug paraphernalia.
The crown said the 48-year-old had relevant criminal records including New South Wales and Victoria and an Australian Federal Police criminal history.
His criminal record dated back to 1995 when he was just 18 years old and had previously fronted the Townsville Supreme Court on three different occasions, Ms Gaden said.
“He’s placed himself in a position, albeit due to his own actions, of being exposed to the prospect that the court categorises him as an individual with no real chance of rehabilitation,” she said.
Defence barrister Ross Malcomson said Lawla wanted to avoid drugs so he could become a “father figure of substance” for his two teenage children.
Justice David North said because Lawla was a “recidivist offender”, there needed to be a stern response to his crimes.
Lawla was sentenced to four years and three months in jail with 484 days of pre-sentence custody declared as time served.
He was immediately eligible for parole.
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Originally published as Steven Julian Lawla sentenced in Townsville Supreme Court for dangerous drug possession
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