Jack William Sullivan sentenced for drug production after police locate tax invoice for drug lab

A man who purchased a drug lab to produce methamphetamine unfortunately did not possess the skills to cook the drug.

A MAN who purchased a drug lab to produce methamphetamine, did not possess the skills to cook the drug, a court has heard.

Defence barrister James Godbolt told the Townsville Supreme Court his client Jack Sullivan, 28, bought the drug lab with the initial intention to make methamphetamine. But after sourcing a recipe for methamphetamine, Sullivan passed on the glassware.

“He obtained some instructions but unsurprisingly, found that production was well and truly beyond him,” he said.

The court heard that on May 15, 2018, police executed a search warrant at a Townsville address.

Crown prosecutor Aaron Dunkerton said police located “a large number of items”.

“Those included among other things, condensers, burners, jugs, glass reaction vessels and an electric urn,” he said.

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“While some of the items had been used, it was not alleged Sullivan was criminally liable for the production ­occurring.”

Mr Dunkerton said police also located a tax invoice addressed to Sullivan which showed he had purchased the items in June 2017.

The court heard the following day police executed a search warrant at Sullivan’s parents address.

Police uncovered instructions to produce methamphetamine as well as a variety of syringes.

While on bail for the previous offences, Sullivan’s vehicle was intercepted by police on November 6 last year.

The court heard Sullivan was found to have 9.175g of methamphetamine in his underwear. Sullivan pleaded guilty to three charges including unlawful possession of a document.

Mr Godbolt told Justice David Jackson that Sullivan had been diagnosed with ADHD when he was 19 and found using drugs to be beneficial to controlling his symptoms.

After declaring the 348 days spent in pre-sentence custody as time already served, Justice Jackson sentenced Sullivan to 18 months’ jail for unlawfully producing drugs and 18 months’ jail for possession of dangerous drugs to be served concurrently.

A parole release date was set at January 6 next year.

Originally published as Jack William Sullivan sentenced for drug production after police locate tax invoice for drug lab