Dale Fisher sentenced after Morayfield Tavern drug bust

An out-of-work cleaner has been sentenced in Central Queensland after he was caught with five bags of drugs in his car outside a Caboolture pub.

Dale Thomas Fisher was sentenced in Yeppoon Magistrates Court.

A man caught with five bags of drugs in his car outside a Queensland pub has faced court.

Dale Thomas Fisher, 60, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count of possessing drug utensils.

The court heard that on November 19 last year, police were conducting patrols in the carpark area of Morayfield Tavern, Caboolture South, when they found Fisher in a vehicle.

Prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine said police conducted a licence check and they noticed Fisher was “quite agitated.”

“(Fisher) jumped out of his car and continually positioned himself in a way to make it difficult for police to observe the inside of the vehicle,” Ms Neill-Ballantine said.

“While speaking with (Fisher) he admitted to being a daily meth user.”

The court heard during a search of Fisher’s vehicle, police found five bags of cannabis (total weight 311g) and a bag containing eight glass pipes.

Dale Thomas Fisher was sentenced in Yeppoon Magistrates Court.

It was told while police were questioning Fisher, a plastic bottle fell from the waistband of his pants – it contained .1g of methamphetamine.

Fisher had a three-page criminal history.

Solicitor Matthew Mallet said Fisher had previously worked as a cleaner and supervisor but was “currently unemployed due to his health”.

He said about two years ago, Fisher’s marriage of 20 years ended which was a “deeply distressing experience that led to an extended period of personal decline.”

The court heard that in the months after the separation, Fisher, a father, started consuming alcohol “at harmful levels.”

He was also using cannabis for leg pain but eventually turned to methamphetamine as a stronger form of self-medication.

“My client advises he did not set out to become a drug user … but advises that he became addicted very quickly,” Mr Mallet said.

“He is acutely embarrassed to find himself in this position at this time of his life and deeply regrets his conduct.”

Mr Mallet said Fisher was seeing a psychologist, attending ongoing counselling sessions, and he had obtained a lawful medicinal cannabis prescription.

Magistrate Lance Rundle placed Fisher on nine months’ probation and convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Dale Fisher sentenced after Morayfield Tavern drug bust