Steven Anthony Gonos trafficked methamphetamine and fantasy at Seaton

A law-abiding Salisbury North man brought shame upon his family after turning to drug trafficking to feed his addiction, a court has heard.

A plumber caught with thousands of dollars worth of drugs has brought “shame upon his family” after he strayed from his law-abiding life, a court has been told.

Steven Anthony Gonos, 33, of Salisbury North pleaded guilty to drug trafficking on Friday, along with former partner Erin Allanah Clark, Mitchell.

The court heard Gonos was introduced to methamphetamine and fantasy by his former partner, Clark, 38, and quickly fell into a “very significant” addiction, a court has heard.

A prosecutors told the Adelaide District Court on police found 266.4g of GHB, also known as fantasy, and 14g of methamphetamine during a search of Gonos’ Seaton home in December 2019.

The court heard the methamphetamine was valued at $7000 if sold in points and the value of the GHB was $1300 if sold in millilitres.

Steven Gonos. Photo: Facebook

Erin Clark. Photo: Facebook

Judge Michael Burnett sentenced Clark in April to three years and three months, with a non-parole period of 20-months.

He said due to Clark’s rehabilitation commitment, the sentence would be suspended on a $500, three-year good behaviour bond, with supervision for 18 months.

Ben Armstrong, for Gonos, told the court the previously law abiding citizen had travelled overseas in 2018 and overspent.

“In order to recover from that position he took in a lodger, Ms Clark,” he said.

“Ms Clark introduced my client to the use of methamphetamine and GHB … from there things escalate.”

Mr Armstrong said Gonos found himself in the throes of a “very significant” addiction and was selling drugs to fund it.

The court heard Gonos had been using half a gram of methamphetamine and up to 100ml of GHB per day.

“He is now emerging from the other side of that,” Mr Armstrong said.

“The relationship between Ms Clark and my client has now concluded.”

The court heard Gonos had previously worked as a plumber and in sales and marketing.

Mr Armstrong said Gonos admitted he hadn’t made much effort to rehabilitate, it was because he had found himself in a strong element of “self pity”.

“That’s unsurprising given his effective fall from grace,” he said.

“He has brought shame upon his family.

“Once Mr Gonos has some certainty about his fate … that self pity will fall away.”

Judge Burnett will sentence Gonos later this month.