Dale Bradley Hite jailed for 38 drug offence, including supplying meth

The one-punch death of a close friend has been blamed for a man’s sudden and tragic relapse into the throes of meth addiction.

Dale Bradley Hite was jailed for supply dangerous drugs. Picture: Peta McEachern

A hard relapse into the throes of meth addiction triggered by the death of a close mate landed a Dalby man in jail for 442 days.

Dale Bradley Hite is no stranger to the inside of a courtroom or a jail cell, having previously been incarcerated for drug trafficking in 2020.

While he was able to get clean upon release in 2021, he fell back into using and selling ice in 2023.

This led to his arrest in February 2024 after police searched his car, finding a small clip seal bag and a phone containing evidence of dozens of drug supplies.

The 34-year-old Dalby man was charged with 38 drug offences, including 29 counts of supplying a dangerous drug, and one count of possessing more than 2 grams of a schedule 2 drug.

He pleaded guilty to all charges in the Toowoomba Supreme Court on Friday.

Crown Prosecutor Hamish McIntyre classified Hite’s drug dealing as commercial, higher end of street level dealing, preparing to sell at most 3.5 grams to one customer.

Mr McIntyre added that while Hite’s offending was serious, he had already spent enough time in pre-sentence detention.

Acting for the defence, barrister Steven Dickson said his client had a troubled upbringing, losing his father when he was three months old, and then moving out of his mother’s home when he was 12 to live with his godmother, who also died early.

“After his sentencing for trafficking, when he was released on parole he instructed he was doing really well, and got a job working as a solar installer in Chinchilla,” Mr Dickson said.

“He was promoted but his work dried up and he lost his employment, he battled with that.

“He lost a close friend to a one-punch kill, and it saw him relapse again, he started offending, supplying drugs to fund his addiction.”

Mr Dickson provided the court with certificates showing the multiple courses Hite completed while in custody, including drug rehabilitation course and construction white card. “

“It is clear he is making attempts to set his life right,” Mr Dickson said.

“Drug addiction is not something people can turn on and off.

“He is doing the right things to give the court some confidence that he is on the right track.”

Judge Catherine Muir sentenced Hire to 18 months in jail and released him on immediate parole after taking into account the time he has already served.