Rockhampton resident Dale Thomas Robertson grew drugs

A Queensland man convicted of supplying meth and possessing child exploitation material was still able to get a marijuana prescription from Victoria, prompting a judge to warn the trend was “why juveniles are breaking into post offices”.

A man convicted of possessing child exploitation and later growing marijuana was able to get a prescription from Victoria while living in Rockhampton, a court heard this week.

Dale Thomas Robertson, 34, was sentenced in February 2024 for producing marijuana in Norman Gardens after he was busted with 17 marijuana seedlings and 2.4g of marijuana.

This meant he breached a suspended sentence he previously received in Townsville District Court in 2020 for “a serious example” of possessing child exploitation material, Crown prosecutor Tiana Lowry told Rockhampton District Court on May 10.

Dale Thomas Robertson in Rockhampton Magistrates Court for producing, and possessing drugs

During Robertson’s Magistrates Court sentence in February, defence lawyer Grant Cagney said his client was raised mostly in North Queensland by his mother, who was a convicted drug trafficker and introduced him to drugs but had relocated to Central Queensland where his father lived.

He said Robertson grew up surrounded by convicted drug users and traffickers.

Robertson was convicted for supplying meth on behalf of his mother in Rockhampton District Court in 2015.

The court heard that in April 2014, while his mother was sick, a text message came through to Robertson’s mum’s mobile phone asking her for 0.11g of methamphetamine.

Robertson’s ill mother instructed her son to “go and do it” and he made arrangements to get $200 cash from the customer for the methamphetamine.

Mr Cagney said his client left Townsville last year to live with his father.

He said Robertson’s father, who had been a heavy user of marijuana, had been sober of drugs and alcohol for 19 years.

This week, defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said Robertson had been prescribed medical marijuana by a Victorian doctor through an online and over the phone process where he was interviewed and assessed.

He said Robertson received his medication in the mail.

“That’s why juveniles are breaking in to post offices, because it’s coming through the post,” Mr Ahlstrand.

Robertson admitted the breach and Judge Jeff Clarke extended the suspended sentence’s operational period by 12 months, meaning it will now expire November 19, 2024.

Originally published as Rockhampton resident Dale Thomas Robertson grew drugs