Christian Lawrie sentenced at Gladstone for drugs, weapons offences
Bags of drugs and a shortened firearm were seized in a Central Queensland police raid and there were still twists to come when the man charged faced court.
Police & Courts
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A Central Queensland man has been given a suspended jail term after he was busted with bags of drugs and a shortened firearm.
Christian Michael Lawrie, 36, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to charges including possessing shortened firearms and explosives, unlawful possession of weapons, and possessing dangerous drugs.
The court heard the offences were detected after police executed a search warrant at Lawrie’s residence.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Jessica McLaren said of particular concern was Lawrie possessing a shortened firearm.
The court heard Lawrie was also busted with bags of cannabis including one containing 27g of the drug and another with 16g in it.
Lawrie had a nine-page criminal history which included a previous conviction for supplying dangerous drugs.
Solicitor Stephen White said Lawrie was unemployed having previously worked in the hospitality industry.
Mr White said when Lawrie was 17 years old, he “fell in with the wrong crowd” and started using prescription opioids.
“In the form of morphine which he injected,” Mr White said.
The solicitor said Lawrie had subsequently suffered medical complications as a result of his drug addiction.
During Mr White’s submissions, Magistrate Mary Buchanan asked what Lawrie’s explanation was for having a shortened firearm.
Mr White responded: “There is effectively no explanation, Your Honour.”
Ms Buchanan sentenced Lawrie to four months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 18 months.
She also fined him $1000 and a forfeiture order was made for the weapons.
Convictions were recorded.
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Originally published as Christian Lawrie sentenced at Gladstone for drugs, weapons offences
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