Dad's death leads man to drugs

A MAN who became addicted to amphetamines after his father died and his house burnt down was sentenced to two years probation in the Bundaberg District Court yesterday on a range of drugs charges.

Jason Ernest Brown, 37, of Oakwood, pleaded guilty to two counts of producing a dangerous drug, two counts of possessing a dangerous drug, two charges of possessing a utensil used to consume a dangerous drug, one count of possessing a restricted item and failing to take responsible care when disposing of a syringe.

He also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving an uninsured vehicle.

Prosecutor David Nardone told the court the traffic offences involved a motorcycle Brown was riding.

When he was intercepted by police, he told them he had no other way of getting home.

The restricted item in his possession was an extendable baton.

Defence lawyer Kim Bryson told the court Brown's life went out of control after his father died of lung cancer.

Later, his house burnt down after he fell asleep while a candle was burning.

After that he was introduced to amphetamines.

Judge Michael Rackemann said Brown was 36 when he was first arrested, and it was "somewhat unusual for the court to see someone of that age when he had no history of drug offences".

"He has fallen victim to drug addiction relatively late in life," he said.

Judge Rackemann heard Brown had been in custody for 270 days until yesterday.

Giving Brown two years probation, Judge Rackemann ordered that he undertake a drug rehabilitation program.

He convicted him on the traffic offences and ordered he be suspended from obtaining a driver's licence for one month.