Benjamin Thomas Mitchell guilty of assault, drug supply in Toowoomba

A boilermaker serving a suspended sentence for drug trafficking will lose his licence for 13 years after admitting to a shocking catalogue of 48 crimes.

Benjamin Thomas Mitchell (left) leaving the Toowoomba courthouse after pleading guilty to 48 charges that he committed before he was sentenced for drug trafficking in early 2025.

A former drug trafficker on a suspended jail term has been brought back before court to deal with his remaining crimes.

Benjamin Thomas Mitchell fronted Toowoomba Magistrate Court on Monday, July 28, and pleaded guilty to 48 offences, the most serious of which was the assault of his ex-partner and one charge of supplying dangerous drugs.

The other offences included five drug driving offences, evading police at speed, drug possession, weapon possession, stealing, and breaching his bail conditions.

Acting magistrate Lisa O’Neill said although the offences predated his drug trafficking conviction before the Supreme Court in February, he needed to be punished further, given the seriousness of the charges.

Benjamin Thomas Mitchell (left) leaving the Toowoomba courthouse after pleading guilty to 48 charges that he committed before he was sentenced for drug trafficking in early 2025.

She said the assault occasioning bodily harm of a woman happened near Queens Park on June 30, 2024.

Mitchell pushed the woman to the ground, and as she tried to flee down the street, Ms O’Neill said he chased her down before kicking and spitting on her.

Following the assault, the woman was treated by paramedics and taken to the hospital.

Ms O’Neill said, looking at Mitchell’s criminal history, it was clear he had an issue with substance abuse and addiction for some time.

She said in February, Mitchell was sentenced to a three-year and six-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, after he pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs.

Mrs O’Neill urged Mitchell to stay on the “straight and narrow” and to focus on being a good father for his children.

Mitchell was sentenced to a 12-month jail term, suspended for 19 months, which will run alongside his drug trafficking sentence.

The boilermaker’s licence was suspended for more than 13 years.