Sacked executive developed drug habit

A SUCCESSFUL businessman with a background in management has been sentenced to 18 months jail for possessing methamphetamine bought after he was made redundant.

Cameron John Entwistle was on parole for previous charges when he was caught with 7g of methamphetamine, a bud of cannabis and scales after he spent his $2000 redundancy package from Night Owl on drugs.

Entwistle pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to possessing dangerous drugs .

The court heard Entwistle previously owned his own supermarket and after the breakdown of his marriage, developed a methamphetamine addiction.

Defence barrister Harvey Walters said before his client developing a drug habit he was an upstanding person in the community, coaching basketball and was involved with school parents and citizens committees.

The court heard Entwistle had a violent criminal history attributed to a toxic and dysfunctional relationship formed in the midst of his addiction.

Chief Justice Catherine Holmes said she understood that his offending was due to the dissolution of his marriage but condemned his subsequent criminal rampage.

“...It is supported by your criminal history which starts at 42 (years old), which is very unusual but once it started you didn’t waste any time accruing some significant offences,” she said.

Entwistle, who was supported by his father and daughter in court, received a wholly suspended sentence, having already served 287 days in custody.

“It is better you get out of Townsville and go to Melbourne to re-establish your relationship with your family and rehabilitation is better served by a suspended sentence,” Chief Justice Holmes said.

Convictions were recorded.