A NUNDLE man has been jailed for methylamphetamine and amphetamine dealing while his two drug couriers and money handlers have escaped time behind bars.
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Bradley James O’Connor was led into custody in Tamworth District Court on Thursday afternoon to start his three-year prison term for his part in the drug ring, that was brought down by an undercover operation by Oxley detectives.
Nundle brothers Craig and Shane O’Brien were given intensive correction orders (ICOs) – or jail terms in the community – for their part for in the amphetamine and methylamphetamine supply chain operating in Tamworth, Nundle and Westdale.
The trio were exposed by Strike Force Mewburn – the Oxley police operation that was set-up in 2014 to investigate the supply of illegal drugs by the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang in the Tamworth area.
“It was a big brief, it was a big operation, there was a lot of people involved,” Judge Jeffery McLennan said.
O’Connor, 38, admitted to supplying amphetamine in Tamworth in late-2014 and dealing methylamphetamine between December 2014 and February 2015.
Judge McLennan said O’Connor’s role involved users “phoning up” and essentially he would get “a couple of mates to do a delivery”, and he was a low-level supplier and end-user in the Nundle area.
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He said O’Connor’s dealing was close to “four ounces of amphetamine and methylamphetamine” and “when one dried up he just moved onto the next”.
Public defender Stuart Bouveng said O’Connor had “made enormous strides in his rehabilitation” for his drug use, had ongoing health issues that he was receiving treatment for and it was his first time in custody.
Judge McLennan found special circumstances and ordered he serve at least 18 months in custody before he’s eligible for parole.
Crown prosecutor Brian Costello said the 54-year-old O’Brien twins’ roles were to largely courier drugs from Tamworth back to Nundle, and money the other way.
Craig O’Brien admitted to knowingly taking part in the supply of methylamphetamine between December 2014 and February 2015 and was handed a two-year ICO.
The Crown said he was involved in two transports of drugs and money on three occasions, and Judge McLennan said the “quantities were not insignificant”.
He said the men had significant roles involving “significant quantities and money”, but the pair did not make much money for their efforts.
The court heard Shane O’Brien was involved in four drug or money-for-drug transactions including one involving 14g of amphetamine.
He pleaded guilty to knowingly taking part in the supply of drugs in Westdale and Nundle and was handed an 18-month ICO because he played a lesser role in the supply chain.
Co-accused Mark Hicks and Brent Murray – the then Rebels’ Tamworth president – have been jailed for their parts in the police sting.
Judge McLennan said the pair were upper-level suppliers in the Tamworth drug chain.
A co-accused remains before the court and will head to trial in 2019.
O’Connor will be eligible for parole in December, 2019.
Strike Force Mewburn saw police smash the Rebels Tamworth chapter in March, 2015, dismantling the clubhouse in North Tamworth and eight members or associates were arrested.
ICO’s involve offenders completing at least 32 hours a week community service and drug and alcohol testing.