Former 6RAR Jesse Bowers busted with meth at Gladstone

A ‘severely impaired individual who will never work again’ was found ‘driving aimlessly’ around a Central Queensland suburb.

A generic photo of a Steyr semi automatic rifle as used by the ADF, defense, weapon, Army Picture: Glenn Campbell

A former Army rifleman was “driving aimlessly” in a hire car through a Queensland suburb in the early hours of the morning with a significant amount of methamphetamines, a court has heard.

Jesse Mark Robert Bowers, 36, was discharged from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) Army due to his mental health issues after serving six years.

A psychiatrist says Bowers is now a ‘severely impaired individual that will never work again’, the Supreme Court in Rockhampton heard on February 18.

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The Adelaide-born Bowers supplied meth in Gladstone on April 14, 2024, and was found in possession of 13.65g pure meth in Clinton in a hire car at 2.15am the next day.

Defence barrister Scott Carter said his client was using eight to nine points of meth each day at the time of this offending and had been made redundant from his last employment in 2022.

Justice Graeme Crow said police initially found a very small bag of meth – 0.728g in a plastic panel near the driver’s seat.

He said police then located the other stash – 12.997g of meth in 18.209g of substance.

The court heard Bowers worked for Jet Couriers for five to six years after being discharged from the Army and then picked up an apprenticeship with home builder Metricon in Adelaide, working with that company on a 60-home project until November 2022.

Justice Crow said documents provided showed Bowers had experienced “severe trauma” while in the defence force which led to major depression and then led to the development of paranoid schizophrenia with anxiety.

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He said Bowers was introduced to illicit drugs by a friend and started using them recreationally but became addicted them while working in construction, which led to losing his job.

Bowers had also been diagnosed with a polysubstance abuse disorder from his amphetamine and cocaine use, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to one count each of supplying a dangerous drug and possessing more than two grams of a schedule one drug.

Justice Crow sentenced him to three years prison, declared 79 days presentence custody as time already served with immediate release on parole.

Originally published as Former 6RAR Jesse Bowers busted with meth at Gladstone