Personal trainer Matthew Dale Campbell jailed for drug trafficking and money laundering

A father’s ‘serious mistake’ landed him behind bars after police uncovered a large cocaine haul but he refused to snitch on where $50,000 of unexplained wealth came from.

A personal trainer’s plea for no jail fell on deaf ears after he was caught with $30,000 of cocaine and unexplained wealth.

Matthew Dale Campbell’s “serious mistake” landed him a three-year jail sentence, after he refused to snitch on how he became entangled in the crime.

During sentencing, the District Court heard police attended at 35-year-old Campbell’s home address on June 25, 2019.

They seized five plastic bags, containing 125.5g of cocaine from beneath the seats of his car and $17,800 in his bedroom.

The court heard the cocaine was valued between $30,000 and $37,000.

Personal trainer Matthew Dale Campbell was jailed for drug trafficking and money laundering. Photo: File

The Craigmore father-of-three pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering.

The court heard Campbell’s bank accounts showed $51,000 of unexplained money from March 2018.

Campbell’s counsel argued it was not sufficient evidence to prove his offending wasn’t isolated, pointing to the fact police found no tick lists and there were no telephone intercepts and surveillance.

However, Judge Joanne Tracey said it showed an “irresistible inference” that Campbell’s offending wasn’t isolated.

“Your counsel was unable to tell me why it is that you offended … other than to say that a very close associate got you involved,” Judge Tracey said.

“I am told that you were not driven by money, your offending was completely out of character, you are genuinely contrite and regret ever getting involved and importantly say that it will never happen again.”

The court heard Campbell, who worked as a personal trainer, recognised he made a “serious mistake”.

Despite Campbell’s counsel pushing for a home detention sentence, Judge Tracey sentenced him to three years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of 20-months.

“You have, for whatever reason, involved yourself in serious offending that contributed no doubt to the damage that drugs cause to individuals, their families, and the community more broadly,” she said.

“Hardship to your partner and family is a tragic but inevitable consequence of almost every conviction and penalty recorded in a criminal court.”