Jockey’s fall from grace
Meth-dealing hoop jailed over drugs, cash
A ONCE-SUCCESSFUL North Queensland jockey swapped his silks for prison greens after police uncovered more than $173k of unexplained cash, and his established meth-dealing enterprise.
Police found a total of $173,695 in unexplained funds either in the bank account or possession of former jockey Robert John Warren.
The cash, Townsville Supreme Court heard, was found at his mother’s home.
Warren, 55, appeared via videolink from custody into the court, where he pleaded guilty to charges which included trafficking in dangerous drugs.
It was heard that during one of the searches, officers found a ticksheet which revealed sales of over 50g of meth, to multiple customers.
His prices ranged from $2200 for a ball and $1200 for a half ball amount.
Crown prosecutor Andrew Walklate told the court that at one point, Warren had sold 13.5g of meth to a customer.
On another search police found $21k in cash fastened by rubber bands inside a large black luggage bag in a bedroom.
In a search of Warren’s car, police found $108,600 hidden within a “heavily taped” postage box.
Barrister Kelly Stone said his client had been battling trauma and was now looking to receive counselling.
He said Warren had started using drugs as a teenager, and became “absolutely addicted” to meth after quitting a weight-suppression drug that he used while working as a jockey.
Over his career Warren was said to have won a total $1.3m in prize money.
“His days as a jockey were days he could pull himself together,” Mr Stone said.
He added Warren had completed a substance abuse course while in prison.
In sentencing, Chief Justice Helen Bowskill said she never felt all “hope is lost”.
“I have hope for you, and I hope you have hope for yourself, and you can still turn it around,” she said.
She sentenced Warren to eight years jail, and declared 808 days of presentence custody as time served.
He will be eligible for parole in April 2023.