Matthew Aicken was jailed in the Adelaide District Court for trafficking methamphetamine

A father-of-four, who absconded early this year, fears he will be deported back to New Zealand after trafficking methamphetamine to fund his addiction.

A street level dealer has shown little remorse for his offending after he became addicted to drugs and started selling to support his own habit.

Matthew Alan John Aicken, 40, was jailed in the Adelaide District Court on Tuesday, after he went on the run to avoid facing up to his crime.

The court heard police searched Aicken’s car on June 10, 2018 at St Marys.

“In the glove box they found two amounts of methamphetamine – there was a total of 4.47g of crystals containing that drug,” Judge Adam Kimber said during sentencing.

Matthew Aicken who was on home detention bail for his offending absconded earlier this year. Picture: Facebook

Police also found empty resealable bags, glass pipes, scales and a notebook with records of past drug sales.

A mobile phone was found in the shed.

“On that phone were communications … including inquiries about obtaining methamphetamine from you,” Judge Kimber said.

The value of the drugs was estimated between $1000-$2,500.

The court heard Aicken, who was classified as a “street level dealer” had absconded earlier this year.

Matthew Aicken was jailed in the Adelaide District Court for drug trafficking. Picture: Facebook

Aicken, of Moana, had previously been found guilty of drug trafficking after a trial.

“I accept you may have used some of the methamphetamine … and that your offence was to support your own use,” Judge Kimber said.

“The drug methamphetamine does considerable damage within our community.”

The court heard Aicken, who has four children, started using drugs after his father passed away.

“You have described yourself as a heavy user of methamphetamine – at the time of the offence your relationship was under significant stress and you were using methamphetamine heavily,” Judge Kimber said.

The court heard Aicken, who was born in New Zealand, came to Australia over 20 years ago.

“You fear you will be deported … you will be separated from the three children to whom you are close and also separated from the country in which you have made your life for over two decades,” Judge Kimber said.

Judge Kimber said Aicken’s prospects of rehabilitation were not looking positive and he had shown little remorse for his offending.

He sentenced him to two years and four months, with a non-parole period of 17-months. .

The sentence was backdated to July 6.