Lottery winner Joshua John Winslet sentenced for supplying MDMA

An ex-plumber’s life-changing win led him to a life of crime after he became “hopelessly drug addicted” and other users started using him for a “free ride”.

Winning $22m in the lottery would be life-changing for anybody, but for one man it led to a life of crime and being a “free ride” for drug users, a court has heard.

Joshua John Winslet, 27, became “hopelessly drug addicted” after his “hedonistic” lifestyle led to his downward spiral.

The Adelaide District Court heard police attended Winslet’s New Port home on August 30, 2020 on information that drugs were being manufactured there.

They located 2.27g of cocaine on him, as well as 23.9 grams of MDMA in a safe in one of the bedrooms.

Police also found a further 4.4g of MDMA in the wardrobe, as well as a Mauser handgun and ammunition in a manhole in the bathroom.

Joshua Winslet dodged jail for supplying MDMA to his friends. Photo: File

Winslet pleaded guilty to supplying MDMA and possessing a firearm without a licence.

The court heard Winslet won over $22m in the Powerball in 2017.

“You stopped working and over time, you slipped into regular drug use,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing.

“Because of the money that you had won, there was no motivation on your part to work or do anything other than enjoy yourself.”

The court heard Winslet, 27, was “hopelessly drug addicted” at the time of the offending and hanging around with the wrong people, which he allowed to “run amok” in his house.

“You had lots of money so you could afford to buy large amounts of drugs, which you would use yourself and supply to your so-called friends from time to time,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing.

“You, in many ways, were a free ride.

“One of your so-called friends brought the firearm and ammunition … to your house and stored it in your roof.”

During sentencing submissions in July, David Edwardson QC, for Winslet, told the court drug users had used his premises as a “party house”, which is why it was found in an “appalling” state.

Mr Edwardson told the court Winslet’s parents managed his winnings through a trust fund but he used some of the money to accumulate a number of properties, both in South Australia and New Zealand.

The court heard Winslet, who previously worked as a plumber, had a “wake up call” after realising he was facing potential jail time.

Judge Barklay sentenced Winslet to three years and nine months, with a non-parole period of 18-months.

“Although winning the Powerball was incredibly positive in many ways, the downside … is that you lost motivation in life and contented yourself with living a hedonistic lifestyle punctuated by drug use,” he said.

“The firearm in this case was in your house where people were taking drugs and carrying on.

“This increased the likelihood of the firearm being used at least by others for an unlawful purpose.”

The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision.