DEALER AVOIDS PRISON

A CONVICTED drug trafficker released from jail last year has breached his suspended sentence by committing more crimes.

Lindon Erin Oakley, 42, was a “busy street- level” dealer for seven months in 2013 and 2014, selling methylamphetamine, synthetic drugs and marijuana to 41 different customers.

He was sentenced to five years’ jail and released in September last year, after serving 30 months.

Oakley pleaded guilty yesterday in Townsville Supreme Court to breaching his suspended sentence.

Crown prosecutor Jodie Crane said on June 14, Oakley rented a room at Allure Apartments. He checked out the following day and cleaners found a bong made from a Sprite bottle.

On June 20, police intercepted Oakley and searched his car. They found a knife in his glove box as well as empty clip- seal bags and a spoon with crystalline residue and a burn mark on it.

“He didn’t make any admissions to possession of the spoon, he said he’d used it to make coffee,” Ms Crane said.

“He was unable to state why he had possession of the clipseal bags.”

Oakley pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court in August to possessing a knife in public and possessing drugs utensils. He was fined.

Justice David North said while Oakley had a “very disturbing and serious” criminal history, it would be unjust to return him to jail.

“The offending is minor. It apparently occurred against the background of a breakdown of a relationship,” he said.

He activated the remaining 2 ½ years of Oakley’s sentence but allowed him immediate parole release.