A 23-year-old meth addict and ‘weapon enthusiast’ has been sentenced to two years prison following an ‘almost comical’ arrest in Rockhampton.
Jake Kevin Watts was reporting to the police station as part of a bail condition for a former offence, but was busted when a member of the public handed in a set of keys he’d tried to hide in a garden outside the station.
The anonymous individual reportedly saw Mr Watts plant the keys, so followed him to the police station, handed them over and told officers who they belonged to.
Jake Kevin Watts, 23, (above) was busted big time when a member of the public dobbed him into police for planting his car keys in a garden during a trip to the police station
After receiving the tip-off, police searched the young man’s car, which had had driven to the station on a disqualified licence, where they discovered a smorgasbord of illegal items.
They found 19.917 grams of meth at 74 per cent purity, seven knuckle busters, a self-loading firearm, a hand gun, two vials of steroids, oestrogen, a loaded magazine and a second magazine, the Courier Mail reports.
Mr Watts pleaded guilty to drugs and weapons charges in the Supreme Court of Rockhampton on Wednesday.
He was not only driving on a suspended licence, but also hoarding a smorgasbord of illegal items in his car
Defence barrister Tom Polley told the court of Mr Watts’ downward spiral since being introduced to drugs three years ago.
He’s fronted court multiple times for drug-related matters, including the Supreme Court for charges indicative of drug commerciality.
Mr Watts was allegedly using up to 0.5 grams of meth daily at the time of his arrest, and regularly sold drugs to fund his addiction.
Mr Polley also explained how his client said his ‘stupid obsession’ with weapons was why his car was filled with them at the time.
They were apparently not linked with his drug trading.
He said he has a ‘silly obsession’ with weapons, including knuckle busters (above), but they weren’t linked to selling drugs
Justice Duncan McMeekin explained in court that the bizarre arrest would have entertainment value if it wasn’t so ‘serious’.
‘It’s almost comical how he was arrested if it wasn’t so serious,’ he said, admitting that it was unlikely a lecture was going to help.
Justice McMeekin handed the young criminal a two-year prison sentence, along with a two-year disqualified driving period.
Mr Watts was allegedly using up to 0.5 grams of meth (stick photo used above) daily at the time of his arrest, and regularly sold drugs to fund his addiction