A court has been told of a drug-addicted plumber’s spectacular fall from grace after he was stung in a police raid of a luxury unit.
Divorce, bankruptcy and citizenship issues – these are all matters that might land you in court. But not all courts are created equal.
Andrew James Barakat’s fall from grace was detailed at Brisbane Supreme Court as his legal team outlined how he had lost his “industrious and law-abiding life” when his relationship fell apart.
After moving to Queensland, Barakat “fell in with the wrong crowd” and quickly became an addict, barrister David Funch said on Wednesday.
Andrew James Barakat (centre) walked free from court with a probation order and suspended sentence after pleading guilty to a raft of drug charges stemming from a raid of a Surfers Paradise unit in 2021. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire
The 33-year-old walked free from court that morning after pleading guilty to a raft of serious charges, including possessing dangerous drugs and possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of a drug offence.
Barakat was staying in the apartment, located in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast in Queensland, on November 5, 2021, when it was raided by police, the court was told.
He had only been there for about 10 hours when officers found him lying on the lounge room floor.
Justice Susan Brown accepted there were many items at the unit – including large amounts of cash – that Barakat was not to be sentenced for.
His charges stem from his possession of about 8.4g of cocaine.
The court was told Barakat (centre, pictured with his legal counsel) had only been staying at the unit for 10 hours when police raided and discovered a quantity of drugs he admitted belonged to him. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire
The court was told another .377g of methamphetamine, 306g of marijuana and a number of tablets – including four diazepam tablets and five-and-a-half tablets of oxazepam – were also uncovered by police.
“They were all for your personal use, quite a drug concoction,” Justice Brown said.
Barakat also pleaded guilty to refusing to give arresting police the passcode to his Macbook.
He faced maximum penalties of up to 20-25 years in jail for the offences, but Justice Brown said a probation order and suspended sentence were more appropriate for him to manage.
She noted Barakat had been admitted to a mental health ward for drug-induced psychosis.
Mr Funch submitted his client’s drug addiction began when his relationship collapsed when he was aged 28.
Barakat quickly became addicted and attempted to start afresh by moving from NSW to the Gold Coast to no avail, the court was told.
“At the time of his admission he seems to have been so delusional he did not possess any such insight,” Mr Funch said.
Mr Funch said Barakat’s mother – who supported her son in court – had staged an intervention.
The court was told he planned to move back to NSW to get away from the drug scene and pick up work again.
Justice Brown placed him on a probation order for three years.
Barakat was sentenced to two years and 10 months’ jail, which was suspended for three years.
“That is not a get out of jail free card,” Justice Brown warned.
He was convicted and not further punished on other summary charges.