Jail for bringing drugs into Qld

New South Wales man complains about remaining in Queensland

A NEW South Wales man will have to spend time in Queensland against his wishes after he was released on immediate parole.

Matthew Stephen James Cook pleaded guilty before the Supreme Court in Toowoomba to seven drug-related offences including possessing 117 MDMA (ecstasy) tablets and other prohibited drugs when stopped by police near Stanthorpe on April 18, 2015.

Cook, 29, admitted obtaining the drugs in New South Wales and transporting them to Sugarloaf east of Stanthorpe for a planned drug party.

His barrister David Jones told the court his client was to give the drugs to one of four men at the party though he conceded his client hadn’t given police those people’s names.

Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso told the court the 117 ecstasy tablets had been analysed at 69% purity and that of the total weight of drug found, 11.039g, 7.662g was pure.

All the drugs had been found in a bag in Cook’s van which was pulled over by police leaving the property.

The court heard when the property’s owner found out what sort of party was to be held there he told all of the people to leave and called police.

Possessing the drug in such quantity brought a maximum penalty of 25 years’ jail, Ms Kelso said.

Ms Kelso said she had checked with the Department of Probation and Parole and that she had been advised that transferring a parole order interstate was very difficult and that Cook would have to remain in Queensland for some months while that was arranged.

Justice Martin Burns said if the prisoner had to remain in Queensland that would be part of the penalty for transporting illicit drugs.

“You must understand peddling MDMA or like substances is a very serious offence,” Justice Burns told Cook.

Cook burst into tears in the dock, complaining that his support network was in New South Wales.

Mr Jones submitted his client had no previous criminal history and had not committed any offences since this incident.

Justice Burns said it was important Cook had some supervision and sentenced him to two years in jail but ordered he be released immediately on parole.