Shortened shotgun and syringes: Meth-head sentenced for shooting

An Ipswich man who began using meth after dropping out from school in Year 7 has faced court after firing at two people with a shortened shotgun.

Jacob Lee Kemp, 19, pleaded guilty to charges including firing a shotgun at two people.

A young North Ipswich man, who has been addicted to meth since finishing school in Year 7, has faced court after shooting several shots at two people who allegedly ripped off his friends.

Jacob Lee Kemp, 19, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District court on April 24 to a series of charges relating to an incident in February last year.

He was initially charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, but the charge was downgraded to one count of threatening violence at night.

The court heard that at the time of offending Kemp was a daily user of methylamphetamine and was living with friends who were also users.

About midnight on February 15 last year his friends told him someone had “ripped them off” and that they were “going after them.”

The court heard a man and a woman got into a fight with Kemp’s friends and drove off in their car before they realised they were being followed by two cars and a motorcycle.

While trying to elude the vehicles they crashed their car into a tree.

The pair got out of the car and Kemp, who was on the motorbike, used a shortened shotgun to fire two shots at them.

He missed and the pair informed police, who tracked down Kemp later on the morning of February 16 after he tried to flee on the motorbike.

Police allegedly found the shortened shotgun, shotgun shells, a small amount of meth and a used syringe that was unsafely discarded.

The motorcycle was unregistered and uninsured and Kemp was also unlicensed.

Kemp was charged with offences including possession of a dangerous drug, incorrectly disposing of a needle, possession of a category H weapon, possession of explosives, receiving of tainted property, obstructing police and several driving offences.

He had been remanded in custody for 432 days before appearing in court yesterday.

Kemp’s barrister argued that the downgrading of his charge to threatening violence was necessary as he had not intended to harm the pair, but simply to create fear.

The court heard he had a “highly prejudicial” upbringing.

He was not educated past Year 7 and about the time he left schooling he was introduced to meth, quickly becoming addicted.

His barrister said Kemp intended to live with his mother, a former heroin addict, upon release from jail.

She had been clean for 18 years and Kemp hoped she would help set him on the right path.

He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ jail, suspended immediately due to time already served, but remained in custody on remand for other matters still before the court.

He was also given 18 months’ probation, including random, monthly drug testing.

Originally published as Shortened shotgun and syringes: Meth-head sentenced for shooting