A man who was busted with a traffickable quantity of drugs at his Delacombe address twice within three weeks has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars.
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Jarryd Fitzpatrick was charged with drug trafficking and possession offences and released on bail after police executed a search warrant at his Rorey Street home on June 18, last year.
But three weeks later on July 8, police returned to his address to execute a second search warrant and located more drugs and a loaded firearm.
In sentencing Fitzpatrick at the online Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday, magistrate Hayley Bate told him his offending was serious because he re-offended while on bail.
She said anyone trafficking drugs and possessing a firearm in the community would be sentenced to prison.
"I have to turn my mind to community protection and one way to do that is supervision when he is released," Ms Bate said.
Last month, Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty drug and firearm offences, including trafficking drugs.
The court was told Fitzpatrick was living at the Rorey Street address with his girlfriend when police executed a search warrant on June 18, last year.
He told police there were drugs in his garage and he was arrested.
Police discovered a total of 16.6 grams of methamphetamine, 31.6 grams of MDMA, 7.7 grams of ketamine and Xanax tablets.
A hydroponic set-up containing one cannabis plant, electronic scales, $1900 cash and $64 cash in American currency was located in the garage attached to the house.
There was 14 grams of cannabis located in a vehicle nearby.
Fireworks, a mobile telephone, handmade firearm and $15,000 cash was discovered in the kitchen.
Fitzpatrick told police during an interview he sold the drugs, using a mobile phone application, to support himself after he lost his job, and he was released on bail.
Police returned to Fitzpatrick's address on July 8 to execute a second search warrant.
He told police there were drugs and a firearm in the kitchen and he was arrested.
During the search, police discovered drugs, including 18 grams of cannabis, three grams of methamphetamine, 6.5 grams of cocaine, 3.71 grams of MDMA, two vials containing Xanax tablets and four vials containing GHB.
A loaded firearm, one round of shotgun ammunition, $1790 cash and a mobile phone were located, while Fitzpatrick was carrying $565 cash in his pocket.
Defence lawyer Jon Irwin said his client's marriage broke down and he lost his job before the offending. He said Fitzpatrick now had a new born baby and his partner needed his support.
Mr Irwin said Fitzpatrick had not had visitors to his prison due to CIVID-19 restrictions and the 162 days he had spent on remand had been a good deterrent.
Fitzpatrick will be eligible to apply for parole in eight months, while the 162 days he has spent in custody will count towards his sentence.
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