Big-time dealer of meth is jailed

Dalby man pleads guilty

A Dalby man who went from slinging bags of frozen ice at his parents’ business to dealing bags of crystal meth on the streets has been jailed for nine years.

The recidivist drug dealer, Jack Andrew Dukes, fronted Toowoomba Supreme Court on Monday, April 8, and pleaded guilty to trafficking and possessing methamphetamine.

The court heard in April 2023, the 29-year-old was intercepted at Dalby with 332g of meth hidden in the car he was driving, which had a street value of $90,000.

Police also found 459g of a pure version of the substance.

Earlier that day, Toowoomba police attempted to pull Dukes over at Withcott, however he fled up the range at speed forcing police to cancel the pursuit for the public’s safety.

When police searched Dukes’ phone, the court heard officers found evidence relating to 26 methamphetamine drug deals, of which 16 occurred, and one was for an ounce of the insidious drug.

Dukes sold the meth to a base of regular clients and buyers who had their own customer base.

He was on a suspended prison term at the time of the offence for the same crime.

Justice Martin Burns said a letter written by Dukes indicated he had insight into his crime and the detrimental effect the drug had on the community, and had taken accountability for the key role he played in the destruction of lives.

The court heard Dukes grew up in a loving and stable home, and he had worked for his parents’ ice-making business since he could throw a bag of ice, however he later succumbed to addiction.

Justice Burns said since his arrest, Dukes was an upstanding prisoner who worked in a leadership role.

Dukes was sentenced to a nine year jail term.

The 352 days he spent in presentence custody was declared as time served.

Dukes will be eligible to apply for parole on April 22, 2025.