Central Qld mine operator Matthew Steven Dawes busted with drugs

A plant operator at a Central Queensland mine has faced court after he was found with a “very long-term supply” of drugs that he had purchased. Here’s what happened to him.

Cannabis on scales and in a bag. Generic Picture: iStock.

A plant operator at a Central Queensland mine was caught with what his lawyer described as “probably a very long-term supply” of drugs.

Matthew Steven Dawes, 32, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on June 8 to possessing dangerous drugs and contravening a police requirement.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said that on February 27 at 9.30pm, Tannum Sands police located a vehicle of interest in which Dawes was a passenger.

Ms Bain said Dawes was asked if he had anything he wanted to declare, but he told police he “had nothing on him”.

During a pat-down search of Dawes, police found a clip-seal bag containing cannabis in his pants and he told officers: “I had to give it a go, hey?”

As police continued the search, they found a second clip-seal bag of cannabis in Dawes’ pants.

Ms Bain said the two bags of cannabis weighed 60g in total and because of that quantity, Dawes was not eligible for drug diversion.

The contravene police requirement charge related to Dawes not reporting to Gladstone police station as required.

The court heard Dawes had a one-page criminal history.

Solicitor Richard Parks said Dawes had one dated matter involving drugs on his history.

Mr Parks said Dawes was a father who worked as a plant operator at a local mine and he was drug tested at work quite frequently.

Mr Parks said Dawes was not a heavy user of drugs and the amount of cannabis that he was caught with “was probably a very long-term supply that he had purchased”.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said 60g was a “significant amount” of cannabis for someone who only used occasionally.

Mr Parks said: “He (Dawes) does know that if he gets caught out there (work) with it, he loses his job.”

Ms Beckinsale said Dawes was someone who could earn a really good living and it was “silly” to jeopardise that by using drugs.

She fined him $800 and did not record a conviction.

Originally published as Central Qld mine operator Matthew Steven Dawes busted with drugs