A MAN who spent half his $100,000 scratchie winnings on drugs will spend at least three months behind bars.
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James Poulton was jailed for two years for supplying more than 11 grams of methylamphetamine, or ice, in Armidale.
But the offender was handed a 12-month non-parole period in Armidale District Court, with the sentence backdated to his arrest in May.
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to 15 charges and was facing a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.
Poulton took the stand in his sentencing hearing.
He said he had been able to finance his drug habit after winning $100,000 on a scratchie, and had spent about half of that on “mainly drugs”.
“I gave some away that morning,” he said of the 11.62 grams found when police came knocking.
“No, I don’t sell it.”
The court heard police raided a Canambe Street home in May last year.
At that time officers from the Armidale Target Action Group seized a Western Revolver pistol, a .177-calibre handgun, a rifle bolt, ammunition, fireworks, four slingshots, 16 hunting knives, 202 grams of cannabis and a glass pipe.
Thirty assorted rings, jewellery, a jewellery box, brown leather coin album, an iPad mini – all stolen goods – were also recovered.
When questioned by Director of Public Prosecutions solicitor Sue Hynes, Poulton said
he could not remember
where he had acquired the guns from.
“You told police you found the firearms in a bag down the road that morning, is that true?” she asked.
“I was high on drugs when they took that statement,” Poulton replied.
Poulton admitted he had been using ice for the 12 months up to his arrest. “Three or four times a day,” he said. “I can’t believe I let it get that bad.”
He told the hearing he
wanted to undergo rehabilitation and find a job, adding that
he was remorseful for his offending.
“I’m sorry to the members of the community I might have hurt, and most of all my family,” he said.
Barrister Sue Cluss said her client had an “extremely significant drug issue” which was “facilitated by the fact he won money”.
“He is capable of maintaining a crime-free lifestyle,” she submitted, pointing to his intention to go to rehab, adding he had the support of his family.
Ms Hynes said police found a large quantity of resealable bags in the home and Poulton had admitted to supplying drugs on the day of the raid.
“The offences were committed in the presence of children in the home ... that’s of particular concern,” she said.
Poulton was convicted and ordered to pay $500 in fines and surrender the weapons.
He will be eligible for parole in May.
