Nicholas David Rockett sentenced in Townsville District Court after ketamine bust at Australia Post

A North Queensland tradie’s drug deals including the sale of LSD and marijuana were exposed after packages in the mail were flagged to police.

Nicholas David Rockett sentenced in Townsville District Court after ketamine bust at Australia Post picture: Istock

A man has told a court his addiction to ketamine was behind the drug deals he was charged with after police found suspicious packages in the mail and ‘psychedelic cacti’ at his home during the investigation.

Nicholas David Rockett appeared in Townsville District Court on Tuesday morning supported by his mother and friends.

Crown prosecutor Shannon Sutherland said on December 30, 2022 and January 11 last year two packages with a total of 56g of ketamine inside were seized from Australia Post by police officers in Townsville.

She said authorities were led to the 35-year-old’s home after finding the items were they discovered five plants that contained psychedelic properties, 15 tabs of LSD, vials of lysergide, digital scales, blotting paper and empty clip seal bags.

Police searched the man’s phone and found multiple offers to supply marijuana and LSD which Ms Sutherland said can be considered to have been for commercial purpose.

Defence barrister Molly Mahlouzarides instructed by Legal Aid Queensland described Rockett’s addiction to drugs and explained he was using 3 to 3.5g of ketamine per day and began selling drugs to fund his habit.

She said the man who now works as a machine operator had lived across North Queensland, the Gold Coast and Mackay and generally lived a “transient” lifestyle, and that he had now engaged in counselling services to manage his substance addiction.

When handing down a sentence Judge Michael Williamson KC acknowledged the man’s prior drug charges noting he had not been convicted before.

Rockett pleaded guilty to supplying drugs, possession, attempted possession, possessing a thing related to supplying drugs and possessing drug-related utensils.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail wholly suspended for 18 months and ordered to 18 months probation.

“If you do not remove the scourge of drugs from your life you will be here again,” His Honour said.

“And you will hear another judge talk about the scourge of drugs on the community.”

Originally published as Nicholas David Rockett sentenced in Townsville District Court after ketamine bust at Australia Post