Farewell to daughter as he faces jail
A TOWNSVILLE man charged with serious drug offences, including the trafficking and supply of ice, was forced to hug his 20- monthold daughter for the last time in at least a year.
Jarrod William Shefford, 24, was sentenced in the Supreme Court yesterday for trafficking in methamphetamine over a two- week period in 2016 and for eight counts of supplying a dangerous drug.
The court was told police, executing a search warrant on September 7 that year, seized Shefford’s mobile phone but did not forensically examine it for some time.
It wasn’t until in 2017 that the details of his “established” drug trafficking and supply business was uncovered.
Shefford had been on probation orders while he was dealing and trafficking drugs, the court was told.
Justice David North said it took Shefford a while to come to his senses after the raid and the arrest, but took into account his effort to gain certificates to help him in his current job.
“The history … of your offending in light of the opportunities you’ve been given by the courts for other offending demonstrates that at that time you were not willing to co- operate with authorities,” he said.
“From the perspective of your family and those that love you and the community, fortunately there are indications that you have stopped and taken check of things.
“There is some indication now that you are drug free.
“There are now indications of your growing maturity and that you are at least taking some steps towards rehabilitation.”
He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with a parole date set for October 29 next year.
“I acknowledge and recognise that [ this] will cause hurt and hardship to your partner and hurt to your parents … but justice requires that you be forced to face up to the seriousness of your offending,” Justice North said.
Shefford nodded in dock as his sentence read out.
He sombrely hugged his partner and his 20- month- old daughter, giving her a kiss before he was taken away by corrections officers. the was