Luke Cartwright and Stacey Matthews sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine in Port Augusta
A drug dealer with family who work in Correctional Services walked free from court for his enterprise, after he recruited a mum to do his dirty work when he wasn’t available.
Upper Spencer Gulf
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A dealer selling methamphetamine in a country town who recruited others to do his dirty work when he wasn’t available had a win in court after he avoided jail.
Luke Aaron Cartwright, 42, and Stacey Matthews, 38, were both handed suspended sentences in the District Court for running the drug dealing business out of Port Augusta in 2021
During sentencing submissions last week, Kimberley Ballans, for the prosecution, told the court Cartwright was “in charge” of selling the drugs and recruiting his co-accused to sell them when he wasn’t available.
“He was selling predominantly half gram and half ball amounts and was selling on tick,” Ms Ballans said.
“He put effort and care into the quality of the product he was selling and when a person complained and threatened to go elsewhere he offered partial refunds and so was effectively trying to keep his customer base happy.”
Cartwright, of Cadell, pleaded guilty to seven counts of drug trafficking, while Matthews, of Port Augusta, pleaded guilty to two.
Brittany Armstrong, for Cartwright, previously told the court her client “regrettably” turned to drug use at the end of an 11-year relationship.
“This is a man who did get to a very, very low point in his life and was unfortunately at that point heavily addicted to methamphetamine,” she said.
“He was using extensively and unfortunately was selling methamphetamine.”
The court heard Cartwright made the decision to change his lifestyle and moved back to be with his family in the Riverland.
“Members of your family presently work for the Correctional Services in a number of capacities,” Judge Gordon Barrett said.
Judge Barrett said Cartwright was now working and had returned negative drug tests.
The court heard Matthews was a full-time mother of three children and trying to rehabilitate from her drug problem.
Judge Barrett said he accepted Cartwright, who grew up in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, was a street level dealer trading to support his habit.
He sentenced Cartwright to two months and six months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and ten months.
Due to Cartwright’s rehabilitation efforts, the sentence was suspended on $1000, three year good behaviour bond, with 18 months supervision.
Matthews was sentenced to one year and nine months jail, with a 12-month non-parole period.
Her sentence was also suspended on a $1000, two-year good behaviour bond with supervision for one year.
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