St Brendan’s College graduate Kolbe James Langley Butler jailed after being caught with meth in Bundaberg

The St Brendan’s College Yeppoon graduate was studying engineering at university when he first took meth to increase his energy and focus. That’s when his life started falling apart.

He was an engineering student at university with a promising future, but after taking methamphetamines to help with focus and energy, he is now in prison.

Kolbe James Langley Butler, who grew up on a rural property in Banana and graduated Year 12 at St Brendan’s College, quickly saw his life spiral downward after his first hit of meth at age 19.

He first appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court in March 2016 for possessing a small amount of meth and five years later, he was busted possessing more than 20 grams of the illicit substance.

He also has two drug driving convictions on his traffic record.

Butler was 26 years old when police found him at 5.20am on April 30, 2020, standing on the roadway near the intersection of Svensen and Branyan streets, Svensen Heights, at Bundaberg, in possession of 20.924 grams of meth concealed in freezer bags in a sharps container.

Kolbe James Langley Butler, who grew up on a rural property in Banana and graduated Year 12 at St Brendan's College, quickly saw his life spiral downward after his first use of meth at age 19.

He pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court at Rockhampton on September 9 to one count of possessing a dangerous drug in excess of two grams.

“You are a textbook story of the introduction of methamphetamines to a young person,” Justice Graeme Crow said.

The court heard Butler was diagnosed with bipolar disorder but did not comply with treatment, continued using meth and ended up on a treatment order by October 2018.

“Butler’s path to sobriety will be a difficult one due to his mental health,” defence barrister Sheridan Shaw said.

She said he had a secondary diagnosis of behavioural disorders due to stimulants use.

Justice Crow said Butler was 19 when he made the “stupid decision” to try meth to increase his attention and energy.

It impacted his life so much, he dropped out of uni and started an electrical apprenticeship which he didn’t finish.

Kolbe James Langley Butler.

Butler was into his third or fourth month of a second job where he aimed to finish his apprenticeship when his mental health deteriorated and he was diagnosed with bipolar.

He has since had two stints in mental health units, but continued using drugs.

Justice Crow said using drugs with mental disorders was “like putting petrol on a fire”.

Butler was supported in court by his grandmother and a representative from Bridges Health and Community Care mental health service.

The court heard he had the option to go home to the family farm once released from prison, but had decided to go to rehabilitation first.

Justice Crow sentenced Butler to two years prison, declared 141 days presentence custody and set parole release on October 20, 2021.

Originally published as St Brendan’s College graduate Kolbe James Langley Butler jailed after being caught with meth in Bundaberg