Corey Joseph Derrick sentenced in Mackay for meth trafficking, ammunition

A Queensland scaffolder found with bags of meth and records showing 21 “deals” had slipped back into old habits after battling a deadly disease, a court has heard.

The barrister for a Queensland scaffolder found with a stash of meth baggies said his client’s “pessimistic” prognosis with a serious disease led to a relapse into trafficking and using.

The barrister for a Queensland scaffolder found with a stash of meth claims his client’s “pessimistic” prognosis with a serious disease led to a relapse into trafficking and using.

Corey Joseph Derrick was this week described Mackay Supreme Court as “essentially a street level trafficker” by Justice David North.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan said Derrick had a good work history as a scaffolder and had been making efforts to control his meth use when he was diagnosed with a “malignant” melanoma in late 2019.

“He was given quite a poor prognosis and has unfortunately relapsed into heavy methylamphetamine use since,” Mr McLennan said.

“(Derrick) has been undergoing treatment whilst in prison for 198 days, which in my submission would make that period much more onerous than someone physically healthy.”

The court heard Derrick was now in remission but his long-term problem with drugs had led to court dates going back to 2012.

Corey Joseph Derrick plead guilty to trafficking and supplying meth in Mackay Supreme Court on November 23, 2023. Photo: Contributed

A police search on October 5, 2022 had revealed three clip seal bags containing 4g meth and his phone contained evidence of 21 drug deals in small amounts.

Derrick pleaded guilty to supplying meth, trafficking meth, three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, possessing ammunition, and eight other drug-related summary charges.

Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said Derrick’s conditions had been able to be managed through his presentence custody and he should be made to serve more actual jail time.

The court heard drug trafficking drew a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail.

Justice North said meth was a “pernicious drug” for communities, which he added could not be helping Derrick’s cancer battle.

The 33-year-old was sentenced to three years in jail but allowed immediate parole.

Justice North said Derrick’s immediate parole release was ordered “in light of the serious illness that you suffer from” and as he had already served “a significant amount of time in custody”.

Derrick’s 198 days in presentence custody were “specifically” not declared time served on his suspended sentence.

Convictions were recorded and a serious drug offence certificate issued.

Originally published as Corey Joseph Derrick sentenced in Mackay for meth trafficking, ammunition