Mitchell Harris to be sentenced next month for drug and gun offences

A meth addict with a “fascination for guns” was busted stocking up on thousands of dollars of drugs for his next hit outside a known drug house.

A business owner with a “fascination for guns” was stocking up on thousands of dollars worth of meth outside a known drug house.

Mitchell Charles Harris, 29, was in the grips of an “out of control” addiction when he was caught buying his next hit.

Harris was stopped by police at Croydon Park in the early hours of July 12, 2020.

They found 7.97g of methamphetamine, a BB gun, $4300 hidden behind the glove box, four mobile phones and prescription drugs.

The value of methamphetamine was between $3990 and $7980.

Mitchell Harris was found with methamphetamine and a BB gun in his car. Picture: Facebook

Jessica Houlahan, for the prosecution, told the Adelaide District Court the BB gun had the appearance of a handgun.

“The defendant had taken some steps to arm himself in the event that he needed to protect himself and the contents of the car, being the methamphetamine and the cash,” she said.

“The firearm would serve the purpose of intimidating any persons who he may have been conducting drug transactions with or any person who may have had inclinations to rob him of his drugs or money.”

The court heard Harris had been using an 8-ball of methamphetamine a day for one to two months before the offending.

“That would have meant he was spending a minimum of $30,000 and up to $102,0000 on methamphetamine in the one or two months leading up to the offending,” Ms Houlahan said.

“He would have been needing to sell a substantial amount of methamphetamine to afford that level of addiction.”

Harris pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possessing a firearm.

Marie Shaw QC, for Harris, told the court he was caught stocking up on drugs before he went to work.

“It’s fair to say that by the time he got arrested for these offences his addiction was out of control,” she said.

“In the context of his drug addiction he was waiting for the occupant … which was a house known to the police prior to the night as a place where drug use or trafficking may have occurred.”

Mitchell Harris will be sentenced next month. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Harris’ mobile did not reveal any evidence of past drug trafficking.

The court heard Harris was “fascinated with guns” but had now well and truly lost the fascination.

Ms Shaw said the gun was inoperable and there were no BB pellets found.

“He was concerned as to who these people were and were they going to rip him off as he goes to approach a house to buy drugs, not to sell drugs,” she said.

“There’s no evidence at all that he left the car with the firearm.”

The court heard Harris works as a carpenter and owns his own construction business.

Ms Shaw said Harris had turned a corner dramatically after his release from custody and was undertaking rehabilitation programs.

Harris will be sentenced next month.