Alleged drug trafficker Dennis John Pitts bailed after friend residing at bail address dies from apparent overdose

A convicted heroin dealer who is facing new drug trafficking allegations has been given one final chance to see his sick daughter after several alleged bail breaches.

A convicted South East drug dealer who failed to pass a single drug test after being granted bail has been given another chance, a court has heard.

Dennis John Pitts, 49, had his bail revoked in December after a friend who was also living at his home detention address died of an apparent drug overdose, a court has heard.

Mr Pitts first fronted court in October and was granted strict home detention bail after he allegedly attempted to bring guns and drugs across the border from Victoria.

Mr Pitts’ lawyer Jarrad Sim made a renewed bid for home detention bail, with prosecutor India Hopkins strongly opposed.

Ms Hopkins told the court police attended the previous home detention address after a resident died of an apparent drug overdose, a court heard.

Drugs and weapons seized at Mount Gambier. Picture: SA Police

“There was ongoing drug activity culminating in the death of a person at that residence,” she said.

Ms Hopkins told the court Mr Pitts took nearly 1.7 grams of methamphetamine a day while on bail.

“The court can have no confidence in the defendant's ability to comply with court orders,” she said.

Mr Sim conceded Mr Pitts was a “heavy drug user” but said delays in setting up drug counselling had contributed to his ongoing methamphetamine use.

Mr Sim added the new proposed bail address at Mr Pitt’s parents’ home would help keep “undesirable associates away from the property”.

 

The court heard Mr Pitts had a “severely disabled” daughter living in Melbourne whose caregivers wanted to bring to the South East.

“She’s recently been hospitalised due to spine and lung issues — and it’s not thought that she’s got much longer to live,” he said.

Mr Sim said the girl and her caregivers wanted to see Mr Pitts, “a final time” with the girl’s quadriplegia preventing her from visiting him in prison.

Mr Pitts has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a prescribed firearm without a licence and possession of a dangerous article.

Drugs and weapons seized at Mount Gambier. Picture: SA Police

Mr Pitts allegedly sped off across the border to SA after the two men he was travelling with in Victoria were allegedly found with drugs and firearms during a traffic stop.

After receiving a tip-off from Victorian police, SAPOL officer lay in wait at his Mount Gambier home.

Located behind the rear passenger seat of the car he was driving, police found 62 grams of methamphetamine, a pen gun and a small handheld taser, the court heard.

A search of Mr Pitts’ house uncovered a small amount of cannabis, a large amount of plastic deal-bags, two sets of scales, knuckle dusters, a spring loaded knife and roughly $180 in cash, a court has heard.

The court previously heard Mr Pitts had served four months imprisonment for trafficking heroin in 2011.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos granted Mr Pitts home detention bail warning him he was on his last chance.

“You will not be granted bail (again) regardless of your circumstances,” she said.

The Messenger is not suggesting Mr Pitts is responsible for the death of the other resident.

The Mount Gambier man will next front court in April.