A man charged with drug trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime has been sentenced to 18 months in jail with a 12-month, non-parole period.
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“Drug trafficking peddles misery and you have a woeful history dating back years,” Magistrate Gregory Robinson told John Simpson, in Ballarat Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Police prosecutor, Leading Senior Constable Lisa Schoemaker told the court Simpson had been stopped by police at 9.40am on 18 July in Latrobe Street, Ballarat, and a search of his car had revealed a package containing heroin with a street value of $1700.
Five $100 notes, believed to be the proceeds of crime, were also recovered and numerous text messages received on Simpson’s phone while the phone was retained by police supported the trafficking charges, Senior Constable Schoemaker said.
Defence lawyer David Tamanika said his client was an “incredibly small fish in the scheme of things, it was not a large amount of drugs, 4 grams, and a very moderate amount of money.”
He said Simpson had a troubled childhood and his drug use was linked to a motorbike accident in his 30s. The 96 days Simpson had already served was taken into account.
