A member of a criminal group who dealt drugs in the Southern Highlands has been sentenced to jail.
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Nathan Michael Duncan, 35, of New Berrima, appeared before Goulburn District Court on February 12.
Duncan faced charges of participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity, supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, owner occupier knowingly use residence as a drug premises, possess a prohibited weapon without a permit, three charges of possess a prohibited drug, supply a small quantity of prohibited drugs and supply a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs.
Judge Mark Williams said Duncan was arrested on March 10, 2020 with co-offenders Catherine Ann Grainger, 49, from Mittagong, and Christopher O'Brien, 33, from Moss Vale. He said the arrests were part of police strike force Paulwood. The strike force was established to investigate the supply of methamphetamine, known as meth, in the Southern Highlands.
The judge told the court that Grainger was the "primary target" of the operation. He said Duncan, who had a "sporadic relationship" with Grainger, was accused of possessing cannabis, meth and methadone. He said a knuckleduster was also found in Duncan's possession.
Judge Williams said information gained by police interception of Grainger's mobile phone unearthed details on the supply of drugs and that Duncan "knowingly used his New Berrima premises to deal drugs".
"[Duncan] participated in a criminal group by assisting [Grainger] source and supply drugs," he said.
The judge told the court that the accused had supplied cannabis, meth and heroin for financial gain.
He said Duncan had a "lengthy history of drug use" which had started when he was 13 years old.
Judge Williams took Duncan's early guilty plea into account and applied a 25 per cent discount to his sentence. Duncan was convicted and sentenced to prison for two years and eight months back dated to the time of arrest. The co-offenders were convicted and sentenced to jail at Goulburn District Court.
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