William Bryant Forbes pleads guilty to drug charges after leaving Moffat Beach home

Police scoping out a suspected drug house in an unmarked police vehicle have laid multiple charges on a maintenance worker after uncovering ice and paraphernalia in his car.

William Bryant Forbes leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court on September 25, 2024. Picture: Sam Turner

A Maroochydore maintenance worker has been fined almost $2000 after being hit with multiple charges following his departure from a known drug house.

Magistrate Rod Madsen hit William Bryant Forbes with $1800 worth of fines after the 36-year-old pleaded guilty to six offences stemming from an interception at Moffat Beach on October 8, 2023.

Police prosecutor David Hoffmann said officers in an unmarked police vehicle saw an unknown suspect leave a “known” address at Moffat Beach about 3.40pm in a vehicle.

Officers followed the car and found Bryant was the driver with a male passenger.

Acting Sergeant Hoffmann said prior to an officer walking up the vehicle the passenger was seen shifting in the vehicle concealing items.

Forbes pleaded guilty to all charges.

The police prosecutor said due to intelligence of the previous address they left, officers formed a reasonable suspicion and detained the pair for a search.

Acting Sergeant Hoffmann said police searched a blue backpack, which inside was a black zipper case. This contained six clip seal bags containing 0.5g of meth.

In another bag they found more baggies of clear crystal meth which weighed 0.2g.

The court heard Bryant and the other man denied owning the bag or its contents.

Acting Sergeant Hoffmann said inside another bag in the car police found five prescription drug tablets with no script, along with more clip seal bags, a glass pipe and scales.

Forbes after his sentence.

He told the court a silver water bottle was found in a passenger seat foot well with a false bottom which came off and showed a hidden compartment. Police suspected it was utilised to conceal drugs.

Bryant tested positive to a roadside drug test and said he had used a week prior.

Defence lawyer Ben Rynderman said the 36-year-old home maintenance business owner had no like convictions in the last few years however accepted Bryant had some issue with drugs previously.

Mr Rynderman said the Maroochydore man was previously a disability support carer and made efforts to stay away from drugs.

Mr Madsen said it was clear Bryant had stayed away from “tricky situations” in the last 12 months.

Bryant pleaded guilty to six charges including possessing dangerous drugs, drug driving and possessing property suspecting of having been acquired for committing a drug offence.

He was fined and disqualified from driving for one month.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as William Bryant Forbes pleads guilty to drug charges after leaving Moffat Beach home