Dad sold dope to teen boy

A FATHER of four has been jailed for selling marijuana to a 14- year- old boy.

Graham Baxter, 35, was pulled over by police on April 2 last year. The teenager was seated in his car.

Police found 17g of marijuana in the car, four fold- out knives, $ 300 in Baxter’s shorts and a hunting knife in the driver’s seat foot well.

Baxter was sentenced in Townsville Supreme Court yesterday after pleading guilty to a string of offences including supplying drugs to a minor.

Crown prosecutor Amanda Payne told the court Baxter’s mobile phone was seized and police found evidence he had sold marijuana to the boy twice, each time a quantity of 21g. Baxter declined to be interviewed by police.

Defence barrister Harvey Walters said in many past cases of supplying drugs to a minor, the adult had been trying to obtain sexual favours from the child.

“That’s not the case here. My client actually met the young man involved at the Bushland Beach Hotel,” he said.

“When he first met him, he didn’t realise that he was underage, but he subsequently became aware of that.”

Mr Walters said the boy had already been using marijuana and “made inquiries” with Baxter.

Mr Walters said the man’s wife and some of his children were “distressed” by the charges but were in court supporting him. Baxter’s four children are age nine to 19.

Baxter had worked in various jobs including as a truck driver, scaffolder and labour hire worker.

Mr Walters said Baxter was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD) as a child and spent three months in an acute mental health unit in 2013.

He said Baxter had been prescribed antidepressants and self- medicated with marijuana.

Baxter was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended after serving three months.