Daniel Anthony Colin Wakelin denied bail after drug charges

A man getting ready to work on the Bruce Hwy bypass has instead found himself in custody after police allegedly found meth, thousands of dollars in cash, and rounds of ammunition at his caravan home.

Tears spilled in court at Daniel Anthony Colin Wakelin’s unsuccessful attempt at bail on Tuesday.

A steel fixer planning to work on the Gympie Bruce Hwy bypass has been refused bail after being allegedly caught with a “commercial” amount of meth at his caravan home.

Daniel Anthony Colin Wakelin, a 30-year-old Chatsworth man with what the court was told was an “ongoing pattern of reoffending”, is facing nine charges after police searched his residence on March 31.

These included include two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, receiving tainted property, possessing used utensils, possessing property suspected of being used in relation to a drug offence, possessing or acquiring restricted items, possessing items believed to be the proceeds of an offence, and possessing explosives.

Officers allegedly found with 67.3 grams of meth, $5300 in cash, 12 rounds of ammunition and scales.

Daniel Anthony Colin Wakelin, a 30-year-old Chatsworth man with what the court was told was an “ongoing pattern of reoffending”, is facing nine charges after police searched his residence on March 31. He was refused bail.

Magistrate Bevin Hughes said although a drug trafficking and supplying case is still “speculative”, the crown had a strong case the meth was intended for more than personal use.

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Police prosecutor Christie Mahoney said the allegedly tainted property was found in plain sight at his residence.

Sgt Mahoney said footage captured him interacting with a known drug offender on his property.

He was previously imprisoned for an attempt to escape lawful custody and failing to appear, the court heard, and his criminal history includes similar drug offences in 2019 and 2021.

His lawyer Mr Chris Anderson told the court that Wakelin has a friend with cancer that he wishes to visit regularly if bail were to be permitted.

Mr Anderson said that Wakelin had a “negative” experience in custody previously, resulting in him seeing a counsellor.

Wakelin and his family burst into tears as the Magistrate found the risk of the defendant reoffending or failing to appear before the court was “unacceptable”, and refused the bail bid. 

Originally published as Daniel Anthony Colin Wakelin denied bail after drug charges