Michael Verrilli handed a suspended sentence for trafficking methamphetamine

A tradie busted with thousands of dollars worth of meth after a search of his scooter told police he was planning to supply the drug to guests at a wedding.

A drug dealer’s scooter ride landed him a court date after police found up to $3000 worth of methamphetamine on him.

Michael Verrilli, 41, dodged jail in the Adelaide District Court after his life spiralled and he turned to drugs to cope.

Police stopped Verrilli riding a motor scooter with the wrong registration plate on February 11, 2020 at Pooraka.

Police searched the scooter and found two tubs of methamphetamine.

The first tub contained 26g of crystals, 16.5g of which was methamphetamine, and the second tub contained 25.3 of crystals, with 16.3g of methamphetamine.

Verrilli told police both tubs belonged to him and that he had been using 1.5g of the drug per day.

“You told police that the methamphetamine was for your personal guests at the wedding on the weekend,” Judge Paul Slattery said during sentencing.

“You also informed police that you do not usually buy that amount of methamphetamine and that the value of it was between $2500 and $3000.”

Verrilli, of Penfield Gardens, had previously pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.

Michael Verrilli was sentenced in the Adelaide District Court for drug trafficking. Picture: Facebook

“Police were not able to detect any evidence of you trading in methamphetamine as may usually be found on the telephones of traffickers of that drug,” Judge Slattery said.

“There are none of the usual indicia of street level dealings such as unexplained wealth, tick lists, multiple mobile phones, scales, evidence of trading and the like.”

The court heard Verrilli started using methamphetamine after the breakdown of his marriage in 2015.

Verrilli, who is a father to three children, was stopped by his wife from seeing them.

“The combination of all of these circumstances led you to using methamphetamine and you have been struggling with the use of that drug over a number of years,” Judge Slattery said.

The court heard Verrilli was self-employed as an airconditioning and refrigeration technician but was unable to work while on home detention bail.

Judge Slattery said drug dealers need to be deterred from reoffending.

“This is because of the well known and well understood consequences of drug consumption, especially a drug such as methamphetamine,” he said.

“You were not a street level dealer but had obtained an amount of methamphetamine for use by those attending a wedding and for your own use and from the wedding guests you would recoup the costs of the drug.”

Judge Slattery sentenced Verrilli to two years and nine months in jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.

The sentence was suspended on a a two-year, $500 good behaviour bond, due to Verrilli’s ongoing employment and good prospects of rehabilitation.