How jockey who got hooked on meth through racing ruined his Breaking Bad drugs business with one mistake on a Qantas boarding pass

A former jockey has had his plans for a meth empire in Townsville destroyed after he attracted the attention of police by making one simple mistake.

Robert John Warren travelled to Brisbane for a drug deal using a different name on his Qantas boarding pass, which resulted in officers stopping him for a search.

When the 58-year-old was returning home in June 2023, police found 450g of pure meth.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Butler told Townsville Supreme Court last week that Warren was sourcing meth 'wholesale' from Brisbane and taking it home via rail or coach.

Warren was doing most of this illegal activity under the name 'Johnathan Anderson', the court heard.

The ex-jockey had grand plans for building a Breaking Bad-style methamphetamine empire in Townsville.

'He had many discussions with his supplier about aspirations for his business,' Ms Butler told the court.

'Including plans to take over the entire market in Townsville, and that the quality of meth he was sourcing from Brisbane was such that it allowed him to have 'an edge' on his competition.'

Warren had purchased meth wholesale from Brisbane several times before, the court heard.

'He noted on one occasion that... sourcing from Brisbane would "give him the kick he needed to f**k them other c**ts" and there was discussion of sampling the product,' Ms Butler said.

Messages on his phone revealed that Warren had bragged about making $40,000 in sales a day.

Warren was released on parole from jail in April 2023 after being imprisoned for meth trafficking, but was back dealing again within days.

The results of the police search in June 2023 saw the former jockey return to jail to serve the rest of his eight-year term.

His defence barrister Tom Hancock said Warren was introduced to drugs and alcohol at an early age – and his meth addiction was started while working as a jockey.

'His introduction to methamphetamine was associated with his work as a jockey, as a way to maintain (a low) weight,' Mr Hancock told the court.

Warren was sentenced to eight years in jail and has a parole release date of June 1, 2029.