Dealer caught in city drug op

A TOOWOOMBA man went from having a clean criminal history to receiving a ninemonth jail sentence after he was caught up in a police drug operation that targeted another man.

The Toowoomba District Court heard yesterday that Andrew James Crosbie, 43, supplied methamphetamine to a dealer whose phone was being monitored by police.

Crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand told the court Crosbie arranged to sell one gram of meth to the subject of the covert police operation on November 3, 2019.

“At the request of (the target) Crosbie supplied a gram of meth for $300,” he said.

Phone records showed Crosbie arranged to sell a pound of cannabis to the same man for $3000 on November 28 of the same year.

However, Mr Le Grand said there was no evidence that Crosbie completed the sale.

Crosbie’s property was one of several raided in a police operation on December 13.

Mr Le Grand said police found 1.83 grams of meth at the property, along with scales, syringes and clip seal bags.

Mr Le Grand said the presence of the clip seal bags indicated a mixed use that was both personal and commercial.

Acting for the defence, barrister Shane MacDonald said his client was a hard worker who was employed on the drilling rigs for 15 years until he took time off to care for his dying grandmother.

Mr MacDonald said Crosbie ran out of money and turned to drugs to self-medicate through the stress.

“He was a member of society that contributed well and didn’t offend, until this one episode,” he said.

Judge Tony Rafter considered Crosbie’s limited criminal history and his rapid descent into addiction.

“You admitted to being a heavy user of drugs at the time,” he said.

Crosbie pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying a dangerous drug and one count each of possessing drugs and possessing scales used to supply dangerous drugs.

Judge Rafter ordered a head sentence of nine months in jail and released Crosbie on immediate parole.