Brett Matthew Waters faces 20 drug, weapons charges in Kingaroy court

A South Burnett man has begged a magistrate for mercy after his sentence for drugs and weapons offences.

A 27-year-old South Burnett man facing 20 allegations begged the magistrate not to send him back to jail after pleading guilty to slew of drug and weapons charges.

A South Burnett man begged a magistrate not to send him back to jail after admitting to a slew of drug and weapons charges.

Brett Matthew Waters, 27, pleaded guilty to 17 charges on Thursday, April 24, in Kingaroy Magistrates Court.

The charges were two counts of possessing pipes that had been used, one count of failing to properly dispose of a needle and syringe, three counts of receiving tainted property, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, one count of unlawfully possessing small arms ammunition, six counts of possessing dangerous drugs, one count of driving an unregistered car, and one count of driving a car with the wrong number plate attached.

The court heard he was found in possession of illegal substances like cannabis and methamphetamine, as well as medications not prescribed to him which included ritalin, serepax, lyrica and diazepam.

His lawyer said the small quantities of each drug suggested they were intended for personal use rather than for sale.

Waters was also found in possession of multiple firearms, including a Ruger 243 rifle, a Rimfire rifle and another rifle with the serial number altered.

The court heard he was found in possession of illegal substances like cannabis and methamphetamine, as well as medications not prescribed to him which included ritalin, serepax, lyrica and diazepam.

Police prosecutor Lisa Manns asked the magistrate to consider giving Waters a prison sentence of two years because of the seriousness of the offences, and said he had already showed he was willing to commit crimes while on bail.

“Once being granted bail, the defendant has continued to immerse himself in criminal activities, (which is) of serious concern to the prosecution and the community at large,” she said.

“He’s driving around with a loaded firearm that he has received from a break and enter … and then located, after he has been granted bail, with another firearm stolen from another break and enter.”

His defence lawyer Jay Rose said it was clear from Waters’ offending that he was “drug dependant” on multiple substances.

She said he became homeless earlier this year after his drug addiction made it difficult for him to live with his family, and that he had only moved to Taabinga around that time.

As well as being in unlawful possession of three weapons, Waters was also found to have multiple stolen licence plates and a pair of bolt cutters. Photo credit: AAP Image/Richard Walker

The court heard he has previously served jail time for property and drug offences, but had also stayed clean and out of trouble for several years at a time.

Ms Rose told the court her client had a strong work history and had successfully held several jobs long-term, including running his own landscaping business in Gladstone for about three years.

He told his lawyer he started using drugs again after being clean for about four years due to some “unresolved grief” about a close friend’s suicide.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair convicted Waters and sentenced him to 12 months in prison, with a parole release date of August 22.

After the magistrate handed down his sentence, Waters began to beg him to reconsider the punishment and asked him if there was anything he could do to stay out of jail.

“Is there any way I can be released today, is there anything I can do?” Waters said.

“I can’t go back to prison. It will ruin my life again … I can’t do it, your honour. Please.”

Mr Sinclair said, “that’s where you’re going” and that he would have to serve the sentence.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair sentenced Waters to 12 months in prison, with a parole release date of August 22, convictions recorded.

The court also heard an application for bail for three counts of possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug, quantity of or exceeding Schedule 3 but less than Schedule 4.

Ms Rose asked the court to release Waters on bail while they waited for a committal hearing to be scheduled to address the remaining charges due to the lengthy period of time it would take to receive the relevant certificates of analysis for the drugs.

She said he had living arrangements and a job lined up once he was released, and that he would be living with his mother in Tiaro on a fruit-picking farm.

Prosecution opposed the bail application.

Bail was granted, which means Waters should be released from custody after serving his current sentence, however he will remain on probation for some time.

A committal hearing for his remaining charges will likely be scheduled later in the year, once all necessary material has been received.

Originally published as Brett Matthew Waters faces 20 drug, weapons charges in Kingaroy court