Busselton man Thomas James Braszell avoids extra jail time for drug offences

A 35-year-old Busselton man has avoided receiving extra time behind bars for being caught with meth while on bail for other drug offences. Thomas James Braszell appeared in Bunbury District Court on Monday where he was jailed for possessing methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply to another person. The court was told Braszell was riding a bicycle on King Street in the West Busselton area during the late hours of February 10, 2020 when he was stopped by police who expressed their intention to conduct a search. Although Braszell initially rode away telling officers to “f... off and stop picking on me”, police were able to catch up with him and conduct the search. During the search, officers uncovered two clipseal bags that contained a total of 7.64g of methamphetamine inside a bag strapped to Braszell’s chest, along with several empty clipseal bags, $835 cash and a set of digital scales. The court was also told Braszell was on bail for charges of possessing a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, along with MDMA possession at the time of offending. It was submitted that Braszell was sentenced to a four-year prison term for the original drug offending, which was backdated to the day Braszell was arrested for the newer offending. Braszell’s defence counsel Paul Chapman told the court that despite not being able to take part in certain programs as a sentenced prisoner, his client was able to undergo counselling and participate in several education courses while in custody on remand. It was also submitted that Braszell wanted to get past his longstanding history of methamphetamine use and rehabilitate himself for his family. Despite initial concerns of backdating the impending sentence, District Court Judge Michael Gething handed down a 12-month prison term which was ordered to be served concurrently with the four-year term Braszell was already serving. Braszell remains eligible for parole on February 10.