Brent Douglas Murray’s drug dealing ways unravelled in March, last year, when he was arrested as part of an undercover police operation, code-named Strike Force Mewburn.

Murray – who was the chapter’s president at the time – now faces up to 20 years behind bars for supplying 306g of amphetamine, or speed, as well as 47.29g of methylamphetamine, between July, 2014, and March, 2015.

The 34-year-old also pleaded guilty to receiving $49,650 in cash knowing it was the proceeds of crime. Charges of supplying cocaine and cannabis leaf, and threatening to smash a woman’s head in over the phone, will also be taken into account in sentencing.

Supported by family, Murray took the stand in Tamworth District Court, apologising in a two-page letter to the court for his drug-dealing ways which he says ‘destroyed his life’.

“I lost everything because of my stupid habit,” he said in an excerpt of the letter that was read out in court. 

“I hate drugs now and want nothing to do with them.”

Murray told the court he was using amphetamine every couple of days and then would turn to 3.5g, or a ball, of cocaine on the weekend at a cost of $1000.

The court heard he was “able to get his hands on” 56g of amphetamine each week for three weeks, despite telling the court he was only dealing to support his habit.

“You agree you were immersing yourself in a very dangerous business,” DPP solicitor Cameron Reynolds questioned Murray.

“Yes,” Murray replied, admitted he was dealing with people high in the drug trade.

Mr Reynolds said Murray’s remorse was “self-serving”.

“He was quite happy to inflict that misery on the community,” he said, adding the “scope and scale does not support his evidence it was for his [own] use”.

“He was a big fish … Tamworth is not a small pie. It’s a large and lucrative market.”

The court heard Murray talked in code on the phone, and used a warehouse because “it minimised the risk” and he “didn’t want it around [family]”.

“Your sense of remorse only refers to the impact you’ve had on your family,” Mr Reyonolds asked him.

“Yes,” Murray replied.

When questioned how many or who his suppliers were, he said he wouldn’t answer or assist police.

“I would if there was no threat to me,” he said.

A barrister for Murray argued his client only made half of the cash he was dealing and his operation was “not sophisticated”.

“It’s the repetition and the duration which provides the serious offending,” his barrister submitted.

“This is an upper level player in a low level supply network.”

The operation by Oxley detectives smashed the Rebels Tamworth chapter in March, 2015, and saw eight members or associates arrested and others charged.

Murray said he left the Rebels when he went into jail after his March arrest, last year.

Acting Judge Colin O’Connor convicted Murray who he will sentence in a Sydney court next year.