Campbell MacCallum allegedly coached client Mitchell Craig Armstrong on how to deal drugs

A listening device allegedly caught high profile Gold Coast lawyer Campbell MacCallum on a drive home from court coaching a client on how to deal drugs without getting busted.

Campbell MacCallum is one of Queensland’s best known lawyers.

High profile Gold Coast lawyer Campbell MacCallum allegedly coached one of his clients on how to deal drugs without getting caught while driving him home from court – stopping to pick up more cocaine on the way.

The alleged conduct of one of the state’s best known lawyers has been revealed in the Supreme Court at the sentencing of Mitchell Craig Armstrong – a drug trafficker and former client of Mr MacCallum.

Armstrong today pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine between March 20, 2020 and July 17, 2020, as well as unlawful possession of a dangerous drug and possessing tainted property.

Campbell MacCallum allegedly coached a client on how to deal drugs without getting caught. Picture: Annette Dew

He was sentenced to four years and six months jail with a parole eligibility date of November 24, 2022.

Armstrong was given immediate parole on May 18, 2020 for possessing cocaine after the court was told he was remorseful and had mended his ways.

But instead, Armstrong got into the car with his lawyer, Mr MacCallum, who asked him to stop in and buy an amount of cocaine for them to share.

At the time, Mr MacCallum was under investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission, which had hidden a listening device inside the lawyer’s car.

According to what was detailed in court, the listening device picked up Mr MacCallum telling his client how to hide drug transactions from the police, the court heard.

Crown prosecutor Sarah Farnden told the court the pair were captured talking about techniques Armstrong could use to avoid detection.

“It is a significantly aggravating feature of the offending that the defendant continued his business on the day that he was granted immediate parole in this court by supplying his solicitor with 7g of cocaine,” she said.

Campbell MacCallum’s car was fitted with a listening device due to a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation. Picture: Annette Dew

The court heard Armstrong bought 14g and went halves with his lawyer as they drove from court in Brisbane back to the Gold Coast.

“The solicitor was the subject of a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation at the time (and) a listening device had been installed in his car which captured not only the transaction but also the solicitor giving the defendant advice on how to avoid detection and continue with the trafficking business,” Ms Farnden said.

“The remaining offending was detected when his phone was seized and analysed.”

MacCallum is facing charges of possessing cocaine, both in relation to the incident with Armstrong and separately relating to a CCC raid on his home.

He is also facing charges of fraud and money laundering.

MacCallum has indicated he will plead guilty to the possession charges but is yet to do so. He has not entered any plea on the others.

Justice Glenn Martin said Armstrong had reoffended “within hours” of being granted immediate parole in May 2020 for possessing 16g of cocaine.

“Within a matter of hours, you were engaged in trafficking again, this time with your solicitor,” he said.

“You did not know, but it was the case that your solicitor’s car had a listening device and as a result, it was found that you had agreed to provide him with cocaine – and in fact you did provide him with cocaine that day.

“You discussed other matters with your solicitor, including the means by which you could delete messages from your mobile phone and so on.”

The court heard Armstrong had a tick book showing $6500 in debt, 11 customers and regular suppliers.

Originally published as Campbell MacCallum allegedly coached client Mitchell Craig Armstrong on how to deal drugs