Mitchell John Walsh busted drug driving at Stockland Rockhampton

A former long-term retail golf store employee was clocked speeding before doing a U-turn and driving into the Stockland Rockhampton carpark between McDonalds and KFC.

Stockland Rockhampton Shopping Centre. Picture: Aden Stokes

A former long-term retail golf store employee was clocked speeding before doing a U-turn and driving into the Stockland Rockhampton carpark between McDonalds and KFC.

Mitchell John Walsh, 32, had methamphetamines in his system when he was seen driving a white Mitsubishi ute at 87km/hr in a 60 zone on Musgrave Street on June 9 at 7.18pm before turning into Blanchard Street and into the Stockland carpark at Park Avenue, police prosecutor Brandon Selic told Rockhampton Magistrates Court on August 13.

Mr Selic said Walsh, who held a probation licence, had a used glass pipe in his possession.

He had been busted one week earlier – May 15 – at a Port Curtis address – trying to stash a black Nike bag under a couch when police attended the home.

Mr Selic said police had arrived at the initial residence at 11am and Walsh fled on foot, with police pursuing him to a second location where they observed him try to hide the bag from them.

Police found about 10 grams of marijuana in two clip-seal bags and 1.5 grams of meth in the backpack.

The court heard Walsh had a five-page traffic record with two prior drug driving convictions and a two-page criminal record with this offending breaching a suspended sentence.

Defence lawyer Oscar Millroy said Walsh had worked for Drummond Golf for 13 years with his father after finishing high school.

“He was in a relationship with another person who (he) was engaged to be married,” he said.

“This relationship turned sour.

“At this stage, the business was sold – something that he was heavily invested in.

“As a consequence, he also lost the house and as he was unable to keep paying the mortgage.

“He instructs he simply spiralled in terms of recreational drug use as reflected in his history.”

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said Walsh has a problem with drugs, according to his court history.

“If you don’t address it, things are going to get worse,” she said.

“Probation hasn’t managed to steer you off and you’ve had four suspended sentences for possession of drugs just in February in this court, so that’s clearly within that operational period.”

Walsh pleaded guilty to one count each of drug driving on a probationary licence and possessining a drug utensil, along with two counts of possessing drugs.

The court did not hear whether he received any penalties in relation to the speeding offence.

Ms Beckinsale sentenced Walsh to four-months prison, activated the four suspended sentences from February and ordered his immediate release on parole.

She also fined him $900 and disqualified him from driving for six months.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Mitchell John Walsh busted drug driving at Stockland Rockhampton