‘You’re better than this’

A JUDGE has told a Charters Towers man to put his good talents and qualities to better use than supplying illicit drugs to others.

In handing down his sentence on Warren Graham Knuth in the Charters Towers District Court on Monday, Judge Greg Lynham said dabbling in the supply of dangerous drugs could lead to very serious consequences.

“You don’t come before me as a first offender, nor as an offender who has a previous brush with the law involving some low level of drug offending,” Judge Lynham said.

“But what is clear from the character references is that those who know you well speak very highly of you.

“They see a lot of good in you.

“Drugs such as methamphetamine and the most insidious form of that, the drug ice, and cannabis are having devastating impacts communities like

Towers.”

The court heard police executed a warrant on Knuth’s address on November 24, 2019, as part of a drug operation conducted by police in the Mount Isa and Cloncurry areas.

When police executed the search they discovered three glass pipes, a glass bottle, digital scales and a mobile phone at Knuth’s property.

A search of Knuth’s phone in small Charters revealed six occasions in which he offered to supply for a price drugs including marijuana, methamphetamine and MDMA tablets.

Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said the offer to supply drugs was to five different users over a 10-month period.

She said it appeared that the supply of the drugs were to end users and not for on sale.

Defence barrister Frank Richards said the death of the 22-year-old’s father in March of 2019, after a seven year battle with non-hodgkinson’s lymphoma, had a profound effect upon Knuth.

He said it was in that context that his drug use began and the offers to supply drugs to others followed.

“This man is fortunate in that he has a supportive family. He is of good character.

“He has good prospects of rehabilitation. He’s remorseful … and is unlikely to return to that offending.”

Judge Lynham told Knuth he needed to “move on from drugs”. “You need to get your life back in order,” he said.

“Surround yourself with positive role models and do something with your life.”

Knuth pleaded guilty to six charges of supplying a dangerous drug and one of possessing an item used in the supply of a dangerous drug.

On each charge Knuth was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for 18 months.