Mark Scott Andreoni sentenced to home detention for drug trafficking and possessing a firearm

A dealer has walked free from court after he was caught with a variety of drugs and gold bullion, while his partner had her charges dropped.

A street-level dealer was caught with meth, MDMA and gold bullion after he was selling drugs to fund his “severe addiction”.

Mark Scott Andreoni, 38, narrowly avoided jail despite a judge saying he was “somewhat guarded” about his prospects of rehabilitation.

During sentencing, the District Court heard police attended a Fairview Park property on March 29, 2022.

They found $35,400, three silver bullion, two gold bullion and plastic bags with drugs hidden in a safe inside Andreoni’s wardrobe.

The court heard some of the bags contained small amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine, which were uncharged, and another bag contained 12.8g of mixed methamphetamine.

Mark Andreoni and Amy Hedges seen leaving Adelaide Magistrates Court after an earlier appearance. Ms Hedges had her charges dropped in April. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Several MDMA capsules and an unregistered gel blaster were also located.

“I was told that you believed the gel blaster to be a toy and it was predominantly used by your twin nephews when they came around,” Judge Michael Durrant said.

The court heard Andreoni, who’s addiction was severe at the time of his arrest, was funding it by selling drugs to a small group of fellow users.

Andreoni pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possessing a firearm.

His partner, Amy Louise Hedges, 35, was originally charged with drug trafficking but her charges were dropped in April.

The court heard Andreoni was working in an accounting role, as well as being the primary carer for his mother.

Judge Durrant said he was “somewhat guarded” about Andreoni’s prospects of rehabilitation but noted to his credit he had made efforts to get his life back on track.

“Of course, the long experience of courts is that recovery from drug addiction is not a linear process, there will often be recurrences and relapses,” he said.

Judge Durrant said illicit drugs are a scourge.

“They ruin the lives of those who consume and have a horrible impact on families and the community,” he said.

“Firearms are inherently dangerous and they warrant regulation for good reason.”

Andreoni was sentenced to two years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and five months.

Due to Andreoni’s stable employment and rehabilitation efforts he was ordered to serve the sentence on home detention.