Drug dealer now ‘not same man’

Rex Martinich | January 18, 2023

A Queensland drug dealer who ordered his associates to perform a drive-by shooting has made “genuine” efforts to change, a court has heard.

Bridie Franklin Marshall James, 30, faced Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday for sentencing having pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Crown prosecutor Victoria Adams said James had made a substantial income by dealing methamphetamine, cannabis, MDMA and GHB across Brisbane’s southside suburbs.

James’ dealing operation crumbled when he was intercepted by police on May 24, 2021 and found to have meth hidden in his underpants.

Police then searched James’ home and found $3800 in cash, more drugs including prescription-only medication and testosterone, as well as ammunition and a notebook containing details on at least 30 customers.

Ms Adams said James used encrypted messaging apps to arrange almost daily sales of meth in quantities from one tenth of a gram to 28 grams.

“(James’) customers owed him debts ranging from hundreds of dollars to a couple thousand dollars,” Ms Adams said.

“A particular aggravating factor was that he used violence to extract debts from customers. On May 5, 2021 (James) filmed an associate assaulting a customer.”

Police also found a video on James’ phone that showed him driving past a house in the early hours of May 16, 2021 and directing an associate to shoot at it with a homemade firearm.

James’ barrister said her client had a “traumatic” childhood as his father was a member of the Finks bikie gang and beat up his mother in front of him.

“In the lead-up to this offending he had left a job and had no money coming in. He was fraught and returned to drug use,” the barrister said.

“This is the first time he has spent a long time in custody. He has realised drugs are not an effective way to deal with your issues.

“Since being in custody he has been exemplary. He has never been found with anything he should not have, he is always clean and hygienic, he has worked his entire time in jail.”

The barrister said James had been taking hospitality and construction courses as “when he comes out, he does not want to be the man he was”.

Justice Soraya Ryan said James had given a “really impressive” reason to complete his rehabilitation.

“Your efforts to secure residential drug treatment suggests you are not just going through motions, that you are genuine and can be a law-abiding member of society,” Justice Ryan said.

She said James had committed serous offences but had been punished by spending one year and seven months on remand.

James was sentenced to three years in jail and was ordered to be released on parole on Wednesday.

Justice Ryan told James there would be immediate consequences if he returned to drug activity.

“You don’t need me to tell you that drugs bring absolute ruin. We see in this courtroom day-in, day-out the effects of methamphetamine use,” she said.