Gunshot victim Matthew Graham Irving jailed for drug trafficking

A meth dealer who was shot in the chest during a neighbourhood dispute is now behind bars after his “tissue of lies” fell flat with a jury.

A meth dealer who was shot in the chest during a neighbourhood dispute is behind bars after his “tissue of lies” was uncovered.

Matthew Graham Irving’s excuses fell flat with a jury after he failed to convince them he was not dealing drugs and a large sum of cash found was to buy a car.

During sentencing on Tuesday, the District Court heard Irving was stopped by police while riding a motorcycle without registration plates on April 10, 2021 at Christie Downs.

Police found a small plastic bag containing 2.26g of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine cutting agent in Irving’s backpack.

In Irving’s bumbag police found $2390.

Matthew Irving was found guilty of drug trafficking. Picture: Facebook

He was jailed for over three years. Picture: Facebook

Irving’s phone revealed that he was dealing cannabis, methamphetamine and fantasy dating back to March 2021.

Irving, 42, of Adelaide, was found guilty by a jury of drug trafficking.

The court heard the jury were not persuaded by Irving’s evidence during the trial that he was not intending to sell any of the methamphetamine.

“I’m not at all surprised, your evidence was nothing but a tissue of lies,” Judge Paul Muscat said.

Judge Muscat said Irving was clearly a street level dealer and he did not accept evidence that some of the money found on him was given to him to purchase a car.

The court heard Irving had a “raging” addiction and was consuming up to an eight ball of methamphetamine a day, costing $1000.

“Knowing that you were a drug addict it is absurd to suggest as she did that she would hand you such a sum of money,” Judge Muscat said.

The court heard Irving was shot in the chest in December 2021 and developed PTSD.

“You placed your body in the way of a woman to shield her from being shot as she was the intended target,” Judge Muscat said.

The shooter, Anthony Hansen was found not guilty of attempted murder in August after a jury found he was acting in self defence because he believed a home invasion was imminent.

Anthony Hansen was found not guilty of attempted murder. Picture: Facebook

Judge Muscat said Irving appeared much healthier and calmer than he was at trial when he was still using drugs.

“You appear a much different and changed person, suggesting that with the right help you may be able to lead a drug-free and prosocial life,” he said.

Judge Muscat said he accepted Irving was not living a lavish lifestyle and was selling to fund his own addiction.

He sentenced Irving to three years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

The sentence was backdated to May 9.