DEALER’S JAIL TIME IS ‘HARD’

A YOUNG man who had been just a teenager while trafficking dangerous drugs throughout the Townsville community had a “very hard” time in prison, a court has heard.

Daniel John Mclachlan ( pictured left) pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, cannabis and MDA (an amphetamine-like designer drug) when he faced Townsville Supreme Court on Monday.

Justice David North said Mclachlan had a concerning history of drug offending for someone just 20 years old.

The court heard police raided a South Townsville residence in October 2017, where they seized drugs and drug utensils.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Walklate said officers found a phone inside a backpack that was forensically examined and produced evidence of drug trafficking.

The trafficking occurred between April and October 2017, but Mr Walklate said Mclachlan was in prison for a period of that time, during which no transactions occurred.

“(Mclachlan) supplied small amounts of methamphetamine, cannabis and MDA,” Mr Walklate said. “It was daily or almost daily supply.

“Debts had been made prior to his incarceration, which were being chased upon his release and then the selling resumed.”

Mr Walklate said Mclachlan had 24 customers, seven of whom were regulars and classified the dealings as “streetlevel supplies”.

The court heard the cash turnover during the offending was at least $9700.

Defence barrister Harvey Walters said Mclachlan had spent the past 14 months in prison, which he found very difficult.

“He started involving himself in drugs … His parents tried to intervene and discourage him in that activity, (but) he wouldn’t listen to them and left home,” Mr Walters said.

“Having sat in prison for a lengthy period of time, he realises that everything they said to him was correct.

“His time in prison has been very hard … He has been subject to things that have been very difficult for him.

“He does not wish to go back prison.”

Justice North took into account McLachlan’s significant time in pre-sentence custody and his youth when sentencing him to four years’ jail, but issued an immediate parole eligibility date.

It will now be up to the parole board as to when Mclachlan is released into the community. to