Tyrone Michael Thomas Whittaker jailed for hiding drugs in his bum

A hardened criminal didn’t want to drink the cordial provided by the watch house so he threw a tantrum. Later police found him hiding cannabis in his keister.

Tyrone Michael Thomas Whittaker was caught hiding cannabis in his bum.

A career thug with 11-page criminal history littered with acts of violence blamed the police after he was caught hiding drugs in his bum.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard Tyrone Michael Thomas Whittaker, 30, was being held in the Toowoomba watch house for several days in late October after he stole alcohol from a bottle shop and punched a man who had found his wallet in a motel.

Police prosecutor Natalie Bugden said Whitaker was unhappy with his food.

“As police were providing the defendant with his meal through a small service hatch he became agitated,” she said.

Whitaker slapped away his cup of cordial which spilt on the officer’s pants.

“He then continued to berate the police officers and complain about his meal,” Sergeant Bugden said.

Later police observed Whittaker using a “hand distraction” technique to flick a small aluminium foil package onto the ground before tucking it between his bum cheeks.

“He was moved to a violent detention cell where an unclothed search was conducted,” Sgt Bugden said.

“The defendant said it was the police officers fault that he tried to conceal the cannabis as he could not sleep and police would not give him his medication.”

Later Whitaker threw a second tantrum when police were serving him dinner that ended when he threw a lid at a senior constable.

On Friday Whittaker pleaded guilty to 10 offences, including assault police, drug possession and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Sgt Bugden asked for a two year jail term.

“He has a propensity for violence,” he said.

“This is a person who is ingrained in the prison system and the only course the courts can take is continued periods of imprisonment.”

In his defence, solicitor Joe McConnell said Whittaker grew up in a violent home and had been exposed to drugs from a young age.

He added that Whittaker started smoking ice as a 15-year-old and had been disowned by his family as a result of his violent history.

Magistrate Kay Ryan accepted that Whittaker’s traumatic upbringing had led to his life of crime but noted that her options were limited.

“The offending is appalling especially with regards to the assault occasioning bodily harm, she said

“It appears you believed that the other person had been going through your gear.

Certainly that would be an invasion of privacy if that did occur but your reaction was well out of line.

Ms Ryan ordered a 20-month jail term, recorded 37 days in pre-sentence custody and set a parole release date at April 27, 2022.