A Newnham man was not making any money when he bought and sold ice for friends, the Launceston Magistrates Court heard.
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Damien Michael Wheldon, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of selling a controlled drug, possessing a thing for administration of a controlled drug and a count of using a controlled drug.
Police prosecutor Mike Bonde said police found a skull-shaped ice pipe, among a total of six ice pipes, black digital scales, silver digital scales and snaplock bags containing drugs in the garage and bedrooms at the house where Wheldon was staying.
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Police examined his mobile phone which found messages relating to the sale of methylamphetamine for three and half months.
In an interview with police Wheldon said he smoked a couple of points of ice in the garage at a time.
He told police that he didn't really sell ice he just got it for people, Mr Bonde said.
"He goes and gets it and they give him cash," he said.
The court heard that he told police that he did not make a profit from selling ice.
Magistrate Sharon Cure asked if police accepted what he said.
"We accept that he said it," Mr Bonde said.
"He is buying to demand and he is the go between, he was full and frank in the interview."
Defence counsel Fran McCracken said Wheldon was acting as a go-between for multiple people who requested drugs.
She said that the price of ice went through the roof when the borders closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The price used to be $50 a point, but went to $300 a point when there were travel restrictions,"she said.
Ms Cure remarked that it was an expensive addiction to maintain and asked how Wheldon could afford it.
"From Centrelink benefits and he runs a small business building furniture," Ms McCracken said.
Wheldon had prior offences for selling ice and possessing cocaine in 2018.
Ms McCracken said Wheldon used a regular amount not an excessive amount.
"If he is using two points a week that is $600," Ms Cure said.
"Prices are starting to go down, but in April 2020 they soared," Ms McCracken said.
In sentencing Ms Cure told Wheldon he was in dangerous territory.
"It's hard to imagine how you support a habit, but I have to accept what is put to me," she said.
She said that if he had been selling as a drug trafficker he would be facing trial in the Supreme Court.
"It is a dangerous course of conduct that could involve you facing a long term of imprisonment," Ms Cure said.
She sentenced him to four months in jail which was wholly suspended on the condition that he commit no imprisonable offences for 18 months.
"People must be deterred, in particular from selling or buying drug," she said.
"You need to be not involved."