TWO people entangled in the Tamworth "ice castle" police sting have admitted to charges of supplying drugs, including ice.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Matthew Robert Lee and Sharon Strudwick both appeared via video link in Tamworth Local Court from prison this week, and pleaded guilty to dealing the drug.
Both were charged in the wake of the police operation that unfolded with raids in Tamworth and has now seen 30 men and women charged.
In Lee's case, a charge certificate was tendered to the court, the DPP confirming it was proceeding on the first charge of supply, while a second offence was withdrawn.
"He pleads guilty to sequence 1," Legal Aid solicitor Rae Parker told the court.
"We'll commit him for sentence today."
READ ALSO:
The prosecution had claimed Lee was involved the supply of about 60g of methylamphetamine.
Ms Parker asked for a sentencing assessment report, or background report, to be ordered.
Magistrate Julie Soars committed Lee to the district court for sentence next year. He will return to court in February to fix a date.
"I'll mark him 'bail not applied for, refused' today. Is that correct?" Ms Soars asked.
"Yes," Ms Parker replied.
Strudwick appeared via video link from Dilwynnia women's prison, where she's been held since June.
The DPP said there was a fresh charge before the court, and the case would be dealt with in the local court, not taken to the district court.
Solicitor Frank Falcomata said Strudwick was pleading guilty to three charges.
"That should be supplying heroin, and supplying methylamphetamine and supplying fentanyl," he told the court.
"The agreed facts haven't yet been resolved, but are close, too."
Ms Soars ordered a full sentencing assessment report to determine whether there were any community-based options for sentencing.
"It's a somewhat complex sentencing matter, presumably," she said, examining the facts.
Ms Soars adjourned Strudwick's sentencing hearing until February, ordering her to remain in custody in the meantime.
"Bail not applied for, refused today," Ms Soars said.
The 54-year-old was first charged after being arrested by Strike Force Radius detectives in Denison Street at West Tamworth on May 30. She was granted conditional bail in court, after her arrest.
It's the police case that she contacted her co-accused, Stephen Ross Hanshaw, in prison in June while she was on conditional bail not to contact him.
Hanshaw is alleged to be one of the main culprits in the drug and gun supply ring; police claim he was operating the "ice castle business" out of his Petra Avenue housing commission unit.
He's behind bars on more than 40 drug supply and gun charges, including supply of a large commercial quantity of drugs. He could face life imprisonment if found guilty.