Mishaal Ashneel Kumar, 38, pleaded guilty to three drug related offences in Gladstone District Court

A Gladstone man was told by a Judge he was someone who “had an unresolved drug problem” after police busted his slap-up meth lab in South Gladstone.

A Gladstone man with “an unresolved drug problem” told police the meth lab set up near a room he was renting was not his, a court heard.

Mishaal Ashneel Kumar, 38, pleaded guilty in Gladstone District Court on Tuesday to three drug related offences including producing dangerous drugs.

Crown prosecutor Geoffrey Wong said Kumar’s methamphetamine operation came to an end when police attended his South Gladstone address for other matters.

“Police found a drug laboratory, the equipment for which had been used on or about the same day to make methamphetamine,” Mr Wong said.

“The defendant arrived home later and denied the items found in the laboratory were his, telling police he had found the items in the room he was renting and had moved them to where police found them.

“He was charged the next day of the search and taken into police custody where he has remained ever since, which means he has served 358 days of pre-sentence custody.

“Later that day equipment was dismantled and it was revealed there was a process of manufacturing methamphetamine, with 715 grams of a primary chemical used for making methamphetamine located.

“The maximum theoretical amount of methamphetamine which could have been produced was 701 grams, in practice it would be a lesser amount would be produced.”

Kumar’s defence barrister Maree Wiley said her client’s lengthy criminal history was indicative of someone who had an ongoing problem with illicit drugs.

“He instructs he first started smoking marijuana when he was 12 and then onto using heroin thereafter before ceasing heroin use at the age of 17 and moving on to methamphetamine,” Ms Wiley said.

“It is through that repeated use of an illicit substance over a protracted period of time, not to mention multiple head injuries, that saw him referred to the NDIS where he is receiving specialist treatment.

“This has been my client’s longest stint in actual custody and if he was released today his rehabilitation efforts would benefit greatly.”

Judge Catherine Muir said she was sentencing Kumar on the basis he successfully produced methamphetamine using the laboratory.

“This is serious criminal offending committed by you as a mature man with relevant criminal offending,” she said.

“It was though, I accept, an unsophisticated set up committed by you, someone with an unresolved drug problem.”

Kumar was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment, but immediately released on parole.

Originally published as Mishaal Ashneel Kumar, 38, pleaded guilty to three drug related offences in Gladstone District Court