Gambler in losing run

Drugs found during ‘bender’

A MAN who was found passed out in a Townsville hotel room surrounded by drugs was on a bender after his partner left him.

Police found Brodie Colin Price, 33, passed out on a bed in a hotel room at The Ville Resort-casino on October 29 last year.

The Townsville Supreme Court heard police found 12g of methamphetamine, a glass pipe, digital scales, $600, used clip seal bags and a taser.

Crown prosecutor Molly Mahlouzarides told Justice David North the drugs found in the hotel room had a commercial flavour.

“There were items including scales and clip seal bags that showed the defendant had the ability to weigh up those drugs and package them into smaller amounts for sale,” she said. Ms Mahlouzarides acknowledged that no text messages were found on Price’s phone relating to any drug supplies.

Preceding the event, Price was intercepted by police just outside of Gladstone in June last year. The court heard police found 882g of cannabis in three vacuum sealed bags in the car boot.

Price pleaded guilty to 10 charges including three counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

Price’s barrister Dane Marley said his client had won $19,000 playing the pokies and had purchased the drugs with the winnings.

“His partner moved out of the house with their children and had essentially left the defendant’s belongings in the garage,” he said. “It was at that point the defendant decided to go to the casino, and in his words, ‘have a bender’.”

He said Price had started using methamphetamine at the age of 14 after his father offered him the drug.

Justice David North conceded the drugs in the hotel room were not for a commercial purpose but told Price his “conduct must be denounced”.

“It is serious offending, supplying dangerous drugs such as cannabis and the personal possession of the methamphetamine is serious,” he said.

“The drug is addictive; it can affect families … it can destroy family relationships.”

Declaring the 170 days spent in presentence custody as time already served, Justice North sentenced Price to two years’ jail with immediate parole.