DEVELOPER JAILED
A GOLD Coast property developer has been sentenced to six years in jail for dealing $100,000 in cocaine as part of a sophisticated drug ring.
Steven John Seabrook supplied the drug 169 times to 17 regular customers over eight months in 2016. His wife, Rachel Elizabeth Seabrook, was caught supplying the drug five times.
A GOLD Coast property developer has been sentenced to six years in jail for dealing $100,000 in cocaine as part of a drug ring.
Steven John Seabrook supplied the drug 169 times to 17 regular customers out of a Tedder Ave, Main Beach, business over eight months in 2016.
His wife, Rachel Elizabeth Seabrook, also dabbled in selling the cocaine and was caught supplying the drugs five times.
Mr Seabrook, 57, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Queensland at Southport yesterday to more than 50 charges, including trafficking dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, fraud and forgery.
Mrs Seabrook, 44, pleaded guilty to seven charges including supplying dangerous drugs and possessing the property from the proceeds of crime.
Mrs Seabrook walked from court on parole after being sentenced to two years prison.
Her husband will spend until December 23 next year behind bars after being sentenced to six years prison.
The pair sat side-by-side in the dock during the sentencing and Mrs Seabrook broke down in tears during proceedings.
Crown prosecutor Gary Churchill told the court the pair were caught as a part of a Crime and Corruption Commission sting to bring the Tedder Ave drug syndicate down.
The couple are the first charged in the syndicate to have their matters finalised by the courts.
Mr Churchill said Mr Seabrook supplied 17 friends a total of 169 times between February 18 and October 21, 2016.
“This was very serious offending … with 17 regular customer, almost all but a few were street level,” Mr Churchill said.
“It averages out to about one or two sales per day.”
Mr Churchill said it was estimated Mr Seabrook had a turnover of about $100,000 and dealt with more than 350g of the drug.
Most of the deals consisted of one or two grams but Mr Seabrook would occasionally supply up to 17g of cocaine.
Mr Seabrook was also found in possession of a bolt action rifle.
It will be alleged he obtained some of the cocaine from mortgage broker George Boulos.
Mrs Seabrook supplied cocaine to some of Mr Seabrook’s clients, the court heard.
“She did take small sums for money for expenses of things like dinner,” Mr Churchill said.
Mr Seabrook was also charged with fraud for asking employee Avril Hogan to forge a pay slip to apply for a more than $100,000 boat loan in Mrs Seabrook’s name. The full loan has been paid back.
Defence barrister Angus Edwards, instructed by Jacobson Mahony Lawyers, told the court the pair had been diagnosed with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“He is a man who really has never been in any real trouble before,” Mr Edwards said.
“As an adult he has fallen into drug use and abuse and progressed into trafficking.”
Mr Edwards said Mr Seabrook’s drug use had been exacerbated by stress.
In sentencing, Justice David Boddice said he accepted the trafficking was all street level.
“What is significant is the persistent nature of your conduct,” he said.
He said he took into account the pair’s clean criminal history.
“It is tragic you are sitting in the court today,” he said.