News (Media Awareness Project) - Australia: Soldier Off To Jail After Cooking Speed At Home |
| Title: | Australia: Soldier Off To Jail After Cooking Speed At Home |
| Published On: | 2004-10-28 |
| Source: | Northern Territory News (Australia) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-17 20:40:31 |
SOLDIER OFF TO JAIL AFTER COOKING SPEED AT HOME
A Territory soldier allowed to stay in the army after being convicted of
armed robbery was jailed yesterday for manufacturing drugs in his house.
Clinton John Walters, 27, who has served in Iraq, was sentenced to six
months' jail, despite the defence force still wanting to keep him.
References from high-ranking officers were handed up in Darwin Magistrates
Court.
The trooper is an underwater explosives expert, one of the rarest skills in
the army. He is now expected to be discharged.
Walters remained in the army, carving out a successful career despite
convictions for entering and stealing and armed robbery in NSW in December,
1997. A pistol was held to a man's head in the incident.
He pleaded guilty and was given a two-year suspended sentence.
Walters, now stationed with the 2nd Cavalry unit at Robertson Barracks at
Holtze, pleaded guilty to "cooking" amphetamines at his Wulagi home.
Magistrate Dick Wallace suspended the sentence after two months on
condition Walters commits no jailable offence for two years.
He said he must consider the glowing references and "rather surprising
support" of the soldier's superiors.
But Walters now had a criminal record and he could not be confident he
would not offend again.
Crown prosecutor Sally Ozolins told the court Walters was caught after
Customs opened two boxes of laboratory glassware "commonly used in the
manufacture of illicit subtances".
Walters bought the glassware on an American Internet auction site and
picked them up at Winnellie post office in October 2002.
Police found the glassware when they searched his car at Robertson Barracks
and a search of his home revealed instructions for manufacturing
methylamphetamine. An analysis of his computer found Walters had received
information about manufacturing drugs by e-mail.
Defence lawyer Ian Rowbottam said there would be no future in the army if
he was sent to jail.
A reference from a major said Walters demonstrated the "traditional traits
of the Australian Digger" and was unlikely to reoffend.
A Territory soldier allowed to stay in the army after being convicted of
armed robbery was jailed yesterday for manufacturing drugs in his house.
Clinton John Walters, 27, who has served in Iraq, was sentenced to six
months' jail, despite the defence force still wanting to keep him.
References from high-ranking officers were handed up in Darwin Magistrates
Court.
The trooper is an underwater explosives expert, one of the rarest skills in
the army. He is now expected to be discharged.
Walters remained in the army, carving out a successful career despite
convictions for entering and stealing and armed robbery in NSW in December,
1997. A pistol was held to a man's head in the incident.
He pleaded guilty and was given a two-year suspended sentence.
Walters, now stationed with the 2nd Cavalry unit at Robertson Barracks at
Holtze, pleaded guilty to "cooking" amphetamines at his Wulagi home.
Magistrate Dick Wallace suspended the sentence after two months on
condition Walters commits no jailable offence for two years.
He said he must consider the glowing references and "rather surprising
support" of the soldier's superiors.
But Walters now had a criminal record and he could not be confident he
would not offend again.
Crown prosecutor Sally Ozolins told the court Walters was caught after
Customs opened two boxes of laboratory glassware "commonly used in the
manufacture of illicit subtances".
Walters bought the glassware on an American Internet auction site and
picked them up at Winnellie post office in October 2002.
Police found the glassware when they searched his car at Robertson Barracks
and a search of his home revealed instructions for manufacturing
methylamphetamine. An analysis of his computer found Walters had received
information about manufacturing drugs by e-mail.
Defence lawyer Ian Rowbottam said there would be no future in the army if
he was sent to jail.
A reference from a major said Walters demonstrated the "traditional traits
of the Australian Digger" and was unlikely to reoffend.
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