ON DOLE AND DEALING DRUGS

PENSION GRAB: Accused made $38,000 while on benefits

A HOUSE-bound drug dealer has made tens of thousands of dollars while claiming a disability pension.

A police raid on his Norlane property ended the four-year marijuana operation and discovered a substantial amount of cash and weapons.

Christopher Mclean, 44, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court to three charges. He will be sentenced next month.

Mclean had been in custody since the police raid on his Yooringa Ave home on August 3.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Geoff Lamb told the court that the raid found: A LARGE bag, containing 430g of cannabis under McLean’s bed. THREE further bags of cannabis holding 50g. $5500 in cash. NINE doublededged swords. ELECTRONIC scales.

Three people believed to be on their way to the house to buy drugs fled upon seeing the police, the court heard. Mclean had told police that he had bought a pound of marijuana each month for the past four years. He would smoke half of it himself and sell the other half for $800 profit. Sen-Constable Lamb said that, on that estimate, Mclean had made more than $38,000 from his drug dealing.

The 44-year-old had been claiming the disability support pension — which pays up to $827.10 a fortnight — over that period. The court heard that Mclean, who was supported by his partner/carer, suffered lower back pain, memory issues and diabetes and rarely left the house.

Magistrate Peter Mellas questioned the Centrelink support, saying Mclean’s ability to run a business meant he was able to work.

“On his admissions, he says he’s been trafficking pounds of marijuana for years, and making cash out of it, while he’s on a benefit that says he has no capacity to work,” he said.

Mr Mellas ordered that Mclean be assessed for a community corrections order before he handed down a sentence on September 19.