A father of four and concreter of more than two decades was found with a “boxed laboratory” used for making meth and cannabis plants when police raided his Fraser Coast home, a court has heard.
Jamie Arnold Skillen, 45, pleaded guilty to producing dangerous drugs, two counts of unlawfully possessing a relevant substance or thing, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used when he faced Hervey Bay District Court.
The court heard on March 25, 2022, Skillen was located by police at his home.
In a wardrobe was a “boxed laboratory” containing most of the chemicals, although in small quantities, and apparatus needed to produce methamphetamine.
Analysis of several items revealed the presence of meth.
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Skillen was also growing two small cannabis plants, the court heard and had small quantities of meth and cannabis, as well as paraphernalia he had used to consume those products.
The court heard Skillen came from a stable family and had three siblings to whom remained close.
He had limited contact with his four children, his mother and grandmother had recently died and his father was ill.
Skillen had missed his grandmother’s funeral because he was in custody, the court was told.
In a wardrobe was a “boxed laboratory” containing most of the chemicals, although in small quantities, and apparatus needed to produce methamphetamine.
He had developed an addiction to ice after the breakdown of the relationship with the mother of his children when he was about 32 and was supported by his current partner in court.
Skillen had also suffered from a “significant drug addiction” the court heard, but he had shown growing insight into his drug problem and his criminal history.
He regretted the impact of his incarceration on his family, the court was told.
Skillen had been working as a concreter on and off for the past 26 years and had prospects of employment upon his release.
Judge Vicki Loury said Skillen had been about 32 when he started using ice.
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“The reality is, what I see time and again is men who start using ice in their 30s very, very quickly succumb to its addictive effects and their lives spiral out of control, and that is precisely what has happened to you, it is a very slippery slope.”
Judge Loury said she accepted that Skillen’s production of drugs was for personal use rather than commercial use, but it could still have serious consequences.
“If you don’t do something about your drug problem then it’s likely to kill you,” she said.
“Otherwise, you’ll end up spending longer and longer in jail and losing the supportive relationships that you have in the community.”
Skillen was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to be released after six months, with the time he had spent in custody declared as time served.