A man who made $150,000 selling his house blew most of the money on gambling and meth in just three months – and turned to trafficking when his cash ran out.
Michael Jennings, 32, of Belmont, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court to trafficking methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine.
Police prosecutor Rebecca Gerdsen said police searched Jennings’ home in Belmont on August 8, 2022 and found a small amount of meth in his bedroom.
During their search police also found a mobile phone full of messages and images that showed his drug-trafficking activity.
When he was questioned by police, Jennings admitted to having about $400 worth of meth in his possession and said he had an expensive habit.
Jennings said he only had about five people visit him on a good day and that they were mates.
“I get the impression I have been made out to be a big-time dealer but really that is not the case. When you have money, you live like a king,” Jennings said.
Jennings’ lawyer, Ryan Robertson, said his client’s trafficking lacked sophistication.
Mr Robertson said Jennings was exposed to substance abuse in his early twenties but the real catalyst for his offending came when he sold his home in 2021 and received $150,000.
“That disappeared in the best part of three months as a result of a combination of gambling addiction and very heavy meth use,” Mr Robertson said.
“Once the money had evaporated, he turned to trafficking to make ends meet,” he said.
Magistrate Peter Mellas said people who sold ice caused harm to the community and said the criminal offending was of a high order.
“This is someone who was running a business, it may be low level, but it was a business and it’s a business which hurts people,” Mr Mellas said.
“It concerns me in pleading guilty to these offences that you still have this view of what you did as being in some kind of cottage industry that you got engaged in so you could pay off your bills and support a sustained habit,” he said.
Jennings was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order for 12 months and will have to undertake 100 hours of community work.