A TAMWORTH labourer has escaped jail for supplying ecstasy after he was caught with the drug on two occasions.
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Sam John Reading first came under notice after getting into a fist-fight in Peel Street on January 21, 2017.
Officers were patrolling the Tamworth CBD near Brisbane Street when Reading got into punch-up with two other men.
He was arrested for fighting in a public place and searched, admitting to possessing “pills and coke in my pocket”.
He pleaded guilty in August to supplying 1.27g of MDMA after more than dozen small red plastic capsules were found in his pocket in a resealable bag, along with one with white powder, telling police he bought the drugs for $300 from a seller near the Longyard.
He was behind the wheel of a red Mitsubishi which was stopped by officers in Belmore Street, and randomly drug tested.
Police became suspicious and searched the car, uncovering a red sports bag in the back seat.
Inside a screw top container, there were 200 small capsules, containing 13g of MDMA, as well as 3.89g or two small blocks of MDMA. Police also found 279 empty capsules and a set of scales were also found in the car.
Detectives also searched his phone and found messages offering to sell drugs, arrangements to meet buyers and a “drug ledger or tic list consistent with the sale of drugs” that showed a total of $9245 in amounts next to 10 names.
At the time, Reading was suspended from driving.
Despite initially electing to take the matter to trial, Reading was given a 25 per cent discount for pleading guilty before the case was listed for trial.
He admitted to being a user of cannabis, cocaine and MDMA but has undergone rehab for his addictions.
A reference from employer Josh King was tendered in court describing Reading as a “very hard-working individual” who he “would have no problem” driving to and from work everyday.
The court was told Reading had settled in Tamworth and “wants to make a life” for his family.
Judge Jeffery McLennan said “the best protection that the community can have” from an offender is “if that person rehabilitates themselves”.
“Clearly that is the process that is underway in this case,” he said, adding an intensive corrections order (ICO), or jail term in the community, “will facilitate” that.
Reading was convicted on all counts and placed on an ICO for 18 months as well as a good behaviour bond.