Mackay man Raymond John Henry Law pleads guilty to two drug matters in Warwick Magistrates Court

New Year’s Eve celebrations for a champion campdrafter ended in a court date after a police raid of his vehicle. Here’s what happened.

Raymond John Henry Law on his way to Warwick Magistrates Court on Monday March 11, 2024. (Photo: NRM)

A champion campdrafter and farrier from Mackay has appeared in a Southern Downs court facing drug charges.

Raymond John Henry Law appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court on March 11 where he pleaded guilty to possessing drug utensils and possessing items used in the commision of a crime.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve de Lissa told the court that on December 31 of last year police searched Law’s vehicle while he attended the Warwick Showgrounds on New Year’s Eve.

“Police were drawn to Law relating to another matter and as (police) searched his vehicle, they located a plastic container with clip seal bags with a white powdery residue, a set of electronic scales and a straw also in the cabin of the vehicle,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

Raymond John Henry Law outside court with his lawyer on Monday 11 March, 2024. (Photo: NRM)

The one-time glazier apprentice was also said to have no prior criminal history before this event.

The man’s defence lawyer, Christopher Watters, told the court up until 12 months before the event, the man had been in a stable relationship with a woman for more than a decade, however, “it ended due to infidelity”.

“He resorted sadly to alcohol abuse and drug use as a result of that separation,” Mr Watters said.

The 35-year-old, who was originally from a family farm at Mackay, had a long history with equestrian sports since a young age, his lawyer said.

“Those (drug) items belonged to someone else, to whom he was returning those items while that person was also attending the New Year’s event.”

Mr Watters said Law was an “avid campdrafter” and was last year the state champion for several events, with a background as a farrier.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said that the man’s early plea of guilty and employment history were all positives in his favour.

“The charges relate to ice misuse by the sound of it, and you say they were owned by someone else but that doesn’t matter because they were in your possession,” Ms Sturgess said.

Law was fined $400 and no convictions were recorded.

Seized items were forfeit.

Mr Law had unrelated offences adjourned to Ipswich Magistrates Court on April 5 and he was granted bail to reappear in court on that date.

Originally published as Mackay man Raymond John Henry Law pleads guilty to two drug matters in Warwick Magistrates Court