Kym Nyenhuis jailed after police found him unconscious in his car with 21g of meth

A tradie who relapsed back into drug use after the tragic death of a friend once got stabbed trying to save an elderly lady from being robbed, a court heard.

A father who was living in his car was found passed out at the wheel by police after buying a significant meth stash.

Kym Christopher Nyenhuis, 35, will miss the birth of his third child after he relapsed back into drug use in tragic circumstances.

The Adelaide District Court on Thursday heard Nyenhuis was found unconscious in the driver seat on June 7, 2021 in Smithfield.

Police found 21g of methamphetamine in his ute, valued at $7000, as well as scales, $840, prescription drugs and plastic resealable bags.

The Gawler West father-of-two pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.

The court previously heard Nyenhuis' life had been going well after finishing parole for other offences.

Kym Christopher Nyenhuis outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards.

However, he then received a phone call from someone concerned about one of his close friends.

When Nyenhuis went to his friend’s house, he found him dead, having committed suicide.

“That set him (on a) downward spiral … it caused him to slip away from his relationship, revert to drug use,” Nick Vadasz, for Nyenhuis, said.

During sentencing, Judge Rauf Soulio told the court Nyenhuis purchased an ounce of methamphetamine.

“It appears that you had used a not insignificant portion of that drug given the circumstances in which you were found by police,” Judge Raul Soulio said during sentencing.

“You accepted that part of that drug would be sold.

“There were clearly no signs of luxurious living or unexplained wealth in circumstances where you were effectively ... living in your car.”

Judge Soulio said Nyenhuis had suffered serious physical trauma in his life, including being stabbed in the chest while intervening to stop an elderly woman being robbed in 2008 and being shot in 2013.

Kym Nyenhuis. Picture: Facebook

Kym Nyenhuis. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Nyenhuis was born in country South Australia, where his father was the local police officer.

“That had certain negative consequences in terms of your relationships with your peers as a child,” Judge Soulio said.

The court heard Nyenhuis, who had previously worked in the construction industry, had a child due with his partner next year.

Judge Soulio sentenced Nyenhuis to two years and seven months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and two months.

“I hope that you’re able to look after your family when you’re released from prison … and get back on track.”

The sentence was backdated to April 12.