Three strikes costs addict

Father jailed for drug possession

A LONG-TIME addict who once sold drugs to an undercover police officer was jailed after he was found with methylamphetamine three times — twice while on bail.

Jason Michael Hall, 46, pleaded guilty to serious drug possession charges and other related offences at Townsville Supreme Court.

Hall, a father of four, had previously been convicted for drug supplying, trafficking and possession. The court heard he was convicted in 2001 for trafficking after selling drugs to an undercover police officer on nine occasions.

Crown Prosecutor Dane Marley told the court the charges related to three occasions during a six-month period.

He said police executed a search warrant at Hall’s property on December 20, 2017 and found 3.5g of substance — of which was 2.442g of pure methylamphetamine.

The second offence occurred on March 18 last year, where a small quantity of methylamphetamine was located in his car.

The final offence occurred on June 29 when police again searched Hall’s car finding 23.75g crystal substance which contained 16g of methylamphetamine.

Police also found cannabis, 78 clip seal bags, a set of digital scales and a spoon.

A phone was also found and during the police search a message saying “anything?” was received.

“An inference can be drawn because the defendant had such a large amount of drugs, had the packaging to divide that large amount of drugs, the word ‘anything’ was likely to refer to the dangerous drug,” Mr Marley said.

He submitted both the first offence in December 2017 and the final offence in June were for a commercial purpose.

Defence barrister Harvey Walters rejected this, saying there was a lack of evidence to suggest the sale of drugs and the utensils found were consistent with personal use.

He also rejected the text message noting it could have another meaning.

“The quantity is a larger quantity as a drug, but … not inconsistent with somebody who obtained a drug in that amount to use without there being anything further,” Mr Walters said.

Justice David North was satisfied the first seizure of drugs was not for a commercial purpose. However, he found the third offence was due to the substantial quantity found in his possession, though he noted it was likely some was for personal use.

Hall had already served 255 days in custody.

He was sentenced to a head sentence of four years and will be eligible for parole on October 29, 2020.

A conviction was recorded.