Dad jailed over meth

A FORMER flood recovery project manager who became addicted to meth and began dealing will remain behind bars.

The 37-year-old father pleaded guilty to trafficking in dangerous drugs and supplying dangerous drugs between October 2019 to July 2020.

Prosecutor Shannon Sutherland said James Noel Alex Willingham and his partner at the time worked as a team to source and sell meth.

And despite being searched by police three times while dealing, Willingham continued his part in selling drugs on the street.

Police found more than 7000 messages between Willingham and his expartner where they agreed they needed to make money.

They also spoke about sourcing drugs, the quality of the meth and whether they’d be able to move an “ounce in a week”.

Mr Sutherland said while they acted together, Willingham let his ex-partner “have more control”.

On October 11, 2019, Willingham had spoken with his ex about booking tickets to Sydney in an attempt to source a kilo of meth.

Willingham supplied between 14-28g of MDMA, and would buy larger quantities of meth before using cutting agents and increasing the weight of the drug.

In the first of three searches of Willingham’s car, police found less than a gram of cocaine, straws and pipes, as well as $2000 in his pocket.

Willingham then told his clients to “clean their phones”.

In the second search, .268g of meth was found.

On the third search, police found a “tick list”, cutting agent, pipes, grinder, and clipseal bags – and Willingham was placed in custody, where he remained for 261 days.

Mr Sutherland said Willingham had been using the drugs as well as dealing.

Defence barrister Darin Honchin said Willingham had been working 12 hours a day, seven days a week as a project manager for the flood recovery program, and his ex-partner had been using meth at the time.

Chief Justice Catherine Holmes said Willingham was a bit “above the regular user or dealer on the street”.

“You were working such long hours that you developed a methamphetamine habit.”

Willingham was sentenced to three years jail, with a parole release date of March 31, 2022.