Luke Anthony Downs, who was 28 at the time of his arrest more than two and a half years ago, has now been sentenced in Tamworth District Court after he admitted to a string of drug and gun offences related to his connection to the supply ring.

Judge Deborah Payne closed the court for the confidential sentencing proceedings late last month for prosecution and defence lawyers to make submissions via video link.

Court documents indicate Judge Payne ultimately imposed a total aggregate sentence of six years in prison.

READ ALSO:

Downs has remained in custody since he was arrested in February 2019.

With his sentence dating back to that time and with a non-parole period of two years and nine months, he is eligible for release on November 12.

The term behind bars also takes into account a discount Downs was legally entitled to.

Downs pleaded guilty to drug, firearm and stalk or intimidate allegations against him last year, which included firing a shotgun into a building or inclosed lands and dealing a commercial quantity of the drug ice.

Further offences were dealt with on sentencing.

More than 30 people were charged as part of the specialist Strike Force Radius investigations in 2019.

The secret police sting was set up by Oxley detectives to expose the Tamworth 'ice castle' ring, which involved supplies centred around a housing commission unit in Petra Avenue.

The sentencing of Downs comes as the end nears in the long-running cases.

The court heard on a previous occasion in June that Downs' matter had been drawn out despite him being bail refused in custody, and Judge Payne ordered those involved at the time to "get this case on".

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: