Gawler barber, fitness guru and alleged drug ring treasurer gym plea fails

He had to rally the courts to get himself out from behind bars on remand, but a fitness guru’s plea to go a step further so he can pump iron in a gym has fallen flat.

The alleged “treasurer” of an interstate drug ring who faces charges of laundering more than $1.3m has had an application to leave home detention to go to the gym slapped down.

Matthew Newall, 34, appealed in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to have his home detention bail altered to allow him to go to the gym and work as a steel fixer.

But Magistrate Roderick Jensen was stern in his summation of the application following opposition by a police prosecutor.

“He’s got a choice, he can be in jail or he can be on home detention … he can’t just go about his life as he normally would,” he said.

Newall was arrested as part of Operation Dryad, a near year-long investigation into him and seven other people allegedly involved in the drug syndicate.

Former Gawler barber owner Matthew Newall leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Dean Martin

Steve Jadon. Picture: Facebook

Nick Rehmann. Picture: Facebook

He was arrested as part of December raids on several properties which saw police seize luxury cars, cash, homes, businesses and $1m worth of cannabis.

Newall faces the most serious charges, followed by Gawler East man Nicholas Rehmann and Golden Grove man Steven Jadon.

Newall and Mr Rehmann ran popular hairdressing chain Lagers and Barbers, while Newall was also co-owner of booming fitness company Recovery Hub.

Alongside the trio, 32-year-old Redwood Park man Daniel Flynn, 34-year-old Paralowie personal training couple Josh and Sheryn Armstrong, 41-year-old Highbury man Andrew James Mather and 31-year-old Surrey Downs man Dale Mason Formosa have been charged.

Sheryn and Josh Armstrong have been charged over the alleged drug bust. Picture: Facebook

Police have alleged Mr Flynn, Mr and Mrs Armstrong, Mr Mather and Mr Formosa tended grow houses across the northern and northeastern houses.

Mr Formosa also faces a money laundering charge.

Among the prosecution’s opposition to Newall’s request to go to the gym while on home detention were concerns lifting weights could damage his ankle monitor.

Eleanor Whish-Wilson, for Newall, told the court she had never heard of a bracelet being damaged by gym work.

“That’s not, with respect, reasonable,” she said.

Ms Whish-Wilson told the court Newall was also unable to work as a steel fixer while on home detention, and submitted easing the restrictions would not put the public at risk.

Mr Jensen denied the application.

Newall, Mr Jadon and Mr Rehmann will next face court in March.