Toowoomba court: PTSD blamed for ’rogue rebel’ Peter John Wilhelm Drazic’s downfall

When Toowoomba police raided a home they found a stash of drugs and an arsenal of weapons, including a molotov cocktail hidden in a chicken coop. Here’s why he walked free.

Peter John Wilhelm Drazic still has matters before Toowoomba court after pleading guilty to a raft of drug and weapon crimes.

When Toowoomba police charged a man for driving on a disqualified license, he begged officers to be given a warning, but when they refused he vowed that from then on, he would be a “rogue rebel”.

Peter John Wilhelm Drazic kept his word, with Toowoomba Magistrate Court told the former army serviceman went on to commit a raft of crimes over a number of months after his life spiralled out of control and into drug use.

Peter John Wilhelm Drazic still has matters before Toowoomba court after pleading guilty to a raft of drug and weapon crimes.

Police prosecutor Anita Page said when police raided Drazic’s Highfields home in November 2022, they located a number of weapons and a stash of drugs.
The court was told throughout the property he had a loaded rifle, shortened shotgun, taser, and a molotov cocktail which was hidden in a chicken coop.

The drugs located included methamphetamine, GHB liquid fantasy, and cannabis - along with drug paraphernalia.

At Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, August 7, the father of three pleaded guilty to 24 offences via a video link from the Woodford Correctional Centre.

Police seized an arsenal of weapons and ammunition following a raid on a Highfields property on January 19, 2023.

Ms Page said Drazic’s other crimes related to repeat disqualified driving offences, evading police, failing to comply with police direction, and possessing ammunition and fireworks.

Defence barrister Wesley Seewald said the 43-year-old man had post-traumatic stress disorder from when he served in the Australian army in 1999, and he recently “went off the rails” following the end of his marriage in 2019.

Mr Seewald also noted Drazic felt like he was being targeted and followed by police.

Police conducting a search near a Highfields property that was the scene of a siege found a loaded sawn-off .22 rifle.

Magistrate Kay Philipson said the way in which Drazic’s “poorly managed” case moved slowly through the courts was appalling, noting he had been in custody for an excessive 194 days.

Ms Philipson urged Drazic to address any underlying issues which led to his drug use, mental health issues, and criminal behaviour.

The time Drazic spent in custody was taken into consideration before he was sentenced to a six month probation order, and disqualified from driving for four years and three months.

He was given immediate parole, however Drazic will be back before the court for outstanding unrelated charges on August 28.