Western Downs drug offenders sentenced in Dalby Magistrates Court recently

A man who was found with more than 250g of marijuana hidden in an Esky inside his shed at Dalby was just one person recently sentenced for drug possession in a Western Downs court. See the FULL LIST.

Cannabis generic. istock.

From a man busted storing marijuana in an Esky in his Dalby home to another who was pulled over on his push bike by police who found drugs in his backpack, these are the most recent offenders sentenced in a Western Downs court.

See the full list below.

A bank bag of cannabis against a black and white background with copy space. Picture: istock

Convictions recorded

Troy Robert Dangerfield 

Police attended a drug driver’s home with a search warrant after busting him driving along a Western Downs road after smoking marijuana.

Troy Robert Dangerfield appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on November 7 after he was pulled over by authorities in a random intercept on Fry St in Tara and found to be driving with drugs in his saliva.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said two days after being charged with drug driving, police attended the man’s address where they asked him if there were any drugs on the property.

“(Dangerfield) said yes and took them to the living room where there was a clip seal bag with a stuffed toy located on the book shelf,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“There was an amount of green leaf material, also some utensils located and a skull water pipe.”

The court was told a total of 14.1g of marijuana was in the clip seal bag.

“It’s worth noting he was dealt with in District Court in relation to supply of drugs,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

Defence lawyer Brad Skuse said his client claimed he was only using marijuana to help him sleep.

Acting magistrate Andrew Walker noted that despite the man being sentenced in 2021 for supply of drugs, he had an 11 year break from offending.

“You’re in your early 40s now, you don’t want this to be the start of a big spiral,” Mr Walker said.

Dangerfield pleaded guilty to possessing drugs, drug driving, and possessing drug-related utensils.

He was sentenced to nine months’ probation, fined $500 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Derek Dean Lathem

A father with a “terrible history for drugs” was busted once again in possession of marijuana, with the man claiming to the court he was going to turn things around to be a better example for his son.

Derek Dean Lathem appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on November 7 after police executed a search warrant to look through his Western Downs property and charged him with a string of drug-related offences.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on July 28 police found the 45-year-old in possession of a clip seal bag that had 10g of marijuana sitting on a bench, blades, grinder and scissors with green residue.

“Unfortunately for him he has a terrible history for drugs,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

Defence lawyer Michael McElhinney said his client ran a handyman business in town, and suffered trauma after one of his sons passed away in an accident six years ago.

“He’s now arranged to be on medicinal cannabis,” Mr McElhinney said.

“His son is going to be in the army and he wants to be a better role model for his children.”

Lathem pleaded guilty to possessing drugs and two counts of possessing drug-related utensils.

He was fined $1000.

Rex William Jerome

Rex William Jerome was sentenced for drug possession in Dalby Magistrates Court. Picture: Facebook

A man with a history of drug-related offending found himself before the court for possession and contravening a requirement from a police officer.

Rex William Jerome appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on November 7 after police intercepted him riding his push bike down a Dalby road.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 57-year-old was pulled over by police before they searched his backpack and found 2.55g of marijuana.

“He has some history but there’s a bit of a gap in his offending.”

The court was told Jerome failed to attend the police station to provide fingerprints a week after he had been instructed by a police officer.

Defence lawyer Michael McElhinney said his client accepted the facts and made admissions to police at the time of the offence.

Jerome pleaded guilty to possessing drugs and contravening a requirement by police.

He was fined $600.

Jai Douglas Wright

Jai Douglas Wright sentenced for possessing schedule 8 medication in Dalby Magistrates Court Picture: Facebook

A repeat offender with a history of drugs was this time busted by police with medication that he didn’t have a prescription for.

Jai Douglas Wright appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on November 7 after police executed a search warrant for his Dalby residence and found a section 8 classified medicine.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 33-year-old identified himself to police when they entered his property on October 16 as authorities searched the home.

“(Police) found clip seal bags and when they asked what they were (Wright) said they were Lyrica and said he did not have a prescription for the capsules,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

Wright pleaded guilty to possessing section 8 medication.

He was fined $500.

Conviction not recorded

Mathew John Wolfe

A man who was found with an Esky of drugs at his Western Downs home has told a court that the drug offences were out of character for him.

Matthew John Wolfe appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on November 7 for after he was busted with not only an Esky of marijuana but clip seal bags of MDMA.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said on September 7 police executed a search warrant for the 29-year-old’s home where he resided at with other people.

He said during the search police found clip seal bags of MDMA in powder and rock form, in a total of 16.64g, as well as an Esky in the shed which contained 274g of marijuana.

Defence lawyer Michael Bond submitted character references to the court on the man’s behalf that outlined the behaviour was out of character for the Dalby man.

“(Wolfe) broke his back in a motorbike accident two years ago and often gets pain and has trouble sleeping,” Mr Bond said.

“He’s very remorseful and sorry for the effort police had to put into the investigation and instructs he won’t be doing anything like this again.”

Mr Bond said his client had one other criminal offence in which he was sentenced for five years ago, so asked the court to offer the man one last chance at having no conviction recorded.

Acting magistrate Andrew Walker acknowledged the character references and the notion it was out of character for Wolfe.

“But the sheer quantity of MDMA, it’s not a small amount that’s used for experimentation,” Mr Walker said.

“It seems you are normally no trouble at all, but you’re almost 30 I don’t know what’s caused you to go down this path but if you decide to continue you will find it hard to keep your existing job.”

Wolfe pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs one count of possessing drug-related utensils.

He was sentenced to six months probation, a conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Western Downs drug offenders sentenced in Dalby Magistrates Court recently