A Ballarat magistrate has sent a strong message to the city's drug traders, sentencing an ice dealer to two weeks behind bars.
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Christopher Kinna, who did not have a serious criminal history, looked shocked as he was led into the dock after he was immediately jailed at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Once released from jail, the 34-year-old will be required to complete an 18-month community corrections order.
While sentencing Kinna, magistrate Gregory Robinson said he could see the enormous effects of methamphetamines and amphetamines in our community by sitting in the Ballarat courts.
He said they city's drug trade needed to be attacked.
"Drug trafficking and the pedaling of methamphetamines and amphetamines is trashing this community. It's smashing families and tearing people apart," Mr Robinson said.
"If you engage in drug trafficking and come to this court you will go to jail. Hopefully this will stop this insidious drug trade."
The magistrate told Kinna he accepted his defence's submission he was not in the hierarchy in the drug trade, "but without people like you distributing drugs, the drug dealers would not have a business".
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Ben Jones said police executed a search warrant at Kinna's Newington home on November 8 at 10am.
He said detectives found three sets of scales, four ziplock bags containing a crystal substance, ice pipes and other drug paraphernalia, weights and a bullet.
The court was told Kinna's mobile phone contained a number of text messages relating to dealing drugs to his customers.
Defence lawyer Jon Irwin said his client was not involved in drugs until September when his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and he turned to using ice.
Mr Iwin said Kinna's relationship with his girlfriend ended and his depression and anxiety levels increased.
"He is really remorseful for what he has done," Mr Irwin said.
"His customers were people he knew, who helped him access drugs in the first place."
The magistrate said he found it hard to believe Kinna turned to dealing drugs because of his father's illness. Kinna pleaded guilty to six charges, including trafficking, possessing and using the drug ice.
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