A MAGISTRATE has refused a request for the alleged ringleaders of a Gunnedah drug ring to live together permanently, while on bail.
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Peter Joseph Lennan and Rikki Stranlund are jointly accused of ongoing drug supply - a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.
Police allege the case against Stranlund and Lennan involved multiple drug transactions in August and September last year, with methylamphetamine sourced from the Upper Hunter area to on-sell in Gunnedah.
They were arrested in February as part of Strike Force Munderah and both are on bail, and appeared in Tamworth Local Court together.
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Solicitor Yvonne Phillipos lodged a bail variation asking for Lennan, who was bailed to live with family, to move in with Stranlund, after a family member suffered a heart attack.
She said the couple had essentially been living together because she was staying with him every night.
DPP solicitor Kat McKay opposed the variation and said there was an unacceptable risk of further offences.
"These offences specifically occurred when they were living together and living out of that premises," she said.
Ms Phillipos said the current arrangement was "causing issues" at the family home and, "in any event, whether they're living together or not living together, they're spending the time together".
Magistrate Julie Soars said there was a "number of people caught up in this strike force" and given the origin of the charges, she declined to vary the bail.
"The issue is with the address," she told the court.
The DPP confirmed it was pushing ahead on the ongoing supply charge, which would eventually move to the district court, and a case conference would be held in January. Lennan's other charges were withdrawn and three others will be dealt with in the local court.
Solicitor Garry Johnston said all new charges had been preferred against Stranlund, and new ones laid and others withdrawn. Both remain on bail.
Strike force accused enter pleas
The court was told the DPP had decided not to take on the other cases in the strike force, meaning the drug supply and related offences will be dealt with in the local court where the maximum penalty, if convicted, is two years' imprisonment.
Ricky Ward Finlay is on NSW Supreme Court bail for his charges, but asked for his conditions to be suspended over Christmas.
"You're asking me to vary supreme court bail?" Ms Soars asked.
"They're pretty strict conditions when I look at them."
Finlay pleaded not guilty to participating in a criminal group and stealing property as a clerk. He's accused of stealing fuel from a property that was sold on to others in the alleged criminal ring.
His conditions were suspended and the case will now go to a hearing in Gunnedah, on a date yet to be set.
Cameron Jeffrey Turnbull and Daniel John Wise are each charged with participating in the criminal group.
Wise pleaded guilty to this charge and asked for the case to be finalised.
"There are some bonds to be called up," the police prosecutor told the court.
His solicitor said Wise had "travelled some eight hours to be here" and wanted the matter finalised.
Turnbull, who was unrepresented, pleaded not guilty and a hearing was set down for one day in March in Gunnedah.
Peter Barnes said he no longer wanted to be represented by Legal Aid. He was facing six charges of supplying a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group, and will face a one-day hearing in April.
Sharon Maree Mills had two sets of matters in court. Her drug supply charges were adjourned to Gunnedah to enter a plea; break-and-enter charges were adjourned for a case conference.
"Bail to continue," Ms Soars said.
Ten men and women were charged by police as part of Strike Force Munderah. It was a six-month secret operation by Oxley detectives that unfolded on February 28 with a raid on a home in Baker Street, Gunnedah.
It was set up by police to home in on those behind the supply of drugs and firearms in the Gunnedah area.