Hold-up leads to drug deals

A TASMANIAN man who this week narrowly avoided jail time for trafficking drugs first turned to illicit substances after he was robbed at gunpoint at a bottle shop.

Shaun Hodges, 31, was threatened with a gun “for an extended time during the robbery” in June 2013, the Supreme Court of Tasmania heard on Thursday.

Justice Michael Brett said he accepted Hodges had previously been an industrious worker, but as a result of the robbery struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, becoming homeless and developing “a significant drug habit” by 2018.

Between January and July 2019, according to Justice Brett’s published comments on passing sentence, Hodges was daily selling cocaine, methylamphetamine and a small amount of diazepam to a “small, limited group of drug users”.

While most of the transactions were for his customers’ own use, sometimes Hodges sold larger amounts to be onsold. But Justice Brett said there was little sophistication to the enterprise, with modest amounts and an ad hoc methodology.

He said the business came to an end in July when police searched a holiday unit Hodges was staying at, finding small quantities of cocaine and methylamphetamine, a “tic sheet”, a glass ice pipe, a mobile phone and a bottle of acetone, which is used to wash drugs. Police also found $14,155 cash.

A few days later while Hodges was on bail, his car was intercepted and searched by police, who found another ice pipe, 12.2g of cocaine, another tic sheet and mobile phone and $9900 in cash.

Justice Brett said after the armed robbery at the bottle shop in which Hodges was a victim, he struggled to retain employment, became homeless, developed a drug habit, and suffered a breakdown in his relationship.

“It was in this context that you commenced selling drugs.

You did so to support your own drug habit and to supplement your other income,” the judge said.

“Although you were conducting this business to acquire money, it is clear that you were not making significant profit. During the conduct of the business, you continued to be homeless and were mostly living in your vehicle.”

Justice Brett said since Hodges was caught by police, he had worked hard to get his life back on track, sought help, quit drugs — albeit with the occasional relapse — and established a concreting business.

Hodges pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in controlled substances and a number of summary charges.

He was given a 21-month suspended jail sentence, fined $400, and placed under a 12month probation order.

A sum of $16,000 found in his possession was found to be “tainted property” and forfeited to the state.

Hodges was also ordered to pay $2730 for the analysis of seized drugs.