Drug dealer Matthew Van Linh Burton jailed for six years after northern suburbs bust

A drug dealer who used his short-lived freedom to get married will be waiting a long time to celebrate an anniversary after a judge handed down his sentence.

A drug dealer who was caught red-handed with a large shipment of meth outside a house police were searching will need to wait a long time for a family reunion.

Matthew Van Linh Burton, 39, was jailed for six years in the District Court on Tuesday after using his short lived freedom to marry his wife.

Police attended a Salisbury Park address on November 2.

Burton knocked on the door while police were searching the house, and they found 150g of methamphetamine, a fake driver’s licence and two mobile phones on him.

They also searched his car and found $11,745 and a cryovac bag containing 250g of methamphetamine.

About 400g of meth was seized. Picture: SA Police

Matthew Burton pleaded guilty to multiple counts of drug trafficking. Picture: SA Police

Police also found $11,470 in a vehicle. Picture: SA Police

Police then searched Burton’s Salisbury North address and located buprenorphine strips, 5g of heroin and two cannabis plants being grown hydroponically.

During sentencing, Judge Michael Burnett told the court the total value of the drugs found was up to $291,000 if sold by the gram.

The court previously heard Burton’s mobile phone was analysed and notes were found on his phone revealing significant amounts of money was being exchanged.

Police also located a money counter, scales and heat sealing machine at Burton’s house.

Burton pleaded guilty to two counts of commercial drug trafficking and one count of money laundering and drug trafficking.

Timothy Clarke, for Burton, previously pushed for a home detention sentence, so he could return home to his children and wife – who he married the same weekend he was released on home detention bail in February last year.

Matthew Burton married Stephanie Watmore while on home detention. Photo: Facebook

He was returned to custody only a month later after returning a positive drug test to methamphetamine.

The court heard the collapse of Burton’s concreting company and employment due to Covid-19 led to the resurgence of his addiction.

Judge Burnett said he couldn’t accept Burton was just acting as a courier – as submitted by his counsel – and that he was motivated by profit, due to his drug and gambling addictions.

Burton was sentenced to six years jail, with a non-parole period of three years and seven months

The sentence was backdated to March 9, 2023.

All charges were withdrawn against Burton’s partner and registered nurse, Stephanie Leigh Watmore in March last year.