Stephen Sideras jailed for commercial drug trafficking after a search of his home and work

A man has been jailed after he started running an illegal side hustle from his tyre shop business, with CCTV footage exposing his drug deals.

A father-of-five has been jailed for over four years after a search of his home and tyre shop business uncovered a commercial cannabis operation.

Stephen Paul Sideras, 30, was up to his old tricks three months after being given a chance by the court to avoid jail for similar offending.

During sentencing, the District Court heard police attended Sideras’ home at Lewiston and business at Smithfield on November 25, 2021.

During the search, police located shopping bags in a duffel bag containing a total of 2.5kg of cannabis.

Police also located cannabis oil in two pressure cooker pots and more than $13,000.

Stephen Sideras pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking. Photo: SA police

He was jailed for over four years for the offending. Photo: Facebook

Text messages revealed Sideras had been trafficking from at least August 2021 and selling in pound quantities up to $2800.

A prosecutor told the court during sentencing submissions the business premises where the majority of the cannabis and cannabis oil was located had CCTV cameras.

“That CCTV footage captures from November of 2021 the defendant engaging in the sale of cannabis and cannabis filled vape pens from both within the office area and outside the garage,” the prosecutor said.

Sideras pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking and manufacturing a controlled drug.

Sideras’ wife, Jacinta van den Berk was initially jointly charged with him but all charges were dropped against her in June last year.

Charges were dropped against Sideras’ wife, Jacinta van den Berk in June last year. Photo: Facebook

Sideras was charged with the new offences three months after he was sentenced in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for two counts of drug trafficking.

Police searched a shed on a Lewiston property on June 17, 2020 and found 295ml of marijuana across nine vape pens and two bottles, as well as 504g of green paste, containing marijuana.

Sideras was sentenced to one year jail, with a non-parole period of seven-months, which was suspended on a $500, 12-month good behaviour bond.

The court heard Sideras began supplying cannabis oil to his uncle and sister who used it for health reasons and it turned into a business.

“At the time of the offending your legitimate business was suffering financial difficulties and you believed you could overcome these financial difficulties through the trafficking,” Judge Michael Burnett said.

The court heard Sideras, who ran the tyre business and a dog breeding business, had been addicted to marijuana for many years but had abstained from use for a year.

Judge Burnett said while there were elements of profit in the offending, he accepted Sideras was not living an extravagant lifestyle and was motivated to help others.

He revoked the suspended sentence bond and sentenced Sideras to four years and two months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and three months.