John Neville Grove pleads guilty to supplying dangerous drugs
A convicted drug dealer who offended while on parole was given an ‘artificial’ penalty to avoid him spending too long in jail. Find out why.
Police & Courts
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A convicted drug dealer who offended while on parole was given an “artificial” penalty to avoid him spending too long in jail in the face of lengthy parole board wait times.
Moranbah father-of-one John Neville Grove began pushing drugs six months after he was released from jail for the same crime.
Police detected the 26 year old during an operation targeting drugs and intercepted supply messages for methylamphetamines and marijuana.
Crown prosecutor Julie Aylward said the supplies were for street level amounts and sometimes other things, but there was no commerciality alleged.
Grove pleaded guilty in Mackay District court to five counts of supplying dangerous drugs in October 2020, stealing a trailer and possessing a small amount of marijuana and drug utensils.
The court heard he stole the trailer from a business.
The court heard he had previously been jailed in the supreme court for 18 months for drug dealing, with immediate parole release because of the time already served in pre-sentence custody.
Six months after his release he began dealing again. Grove was arrested in December 2020 and has been in custody ever since.
The court heard because he had offended while on parole, he was not entitled to an immediate parole release and would receive a parole eligibility date when he could apply for his freedom.
But the parole board is struggling against lengthy delays and currently prisoners are waiting 166 days for their applications to be heard.
“Until the parole board is … resourced properly we are having to produce artificial sentences,” Judge Julie Dick said.
Defence barrister Scott McLennan pushed for two years jail to be suspended after the 217 days already served.
“Unfortunately he tried methylamphetamine when he was 17 … and he’s been struggling with addiction since then,” Mr McLennan said.
“Since he’s been in custody he’s completed the highest intensity drug course that they offer.
“He has been abstaining from drugs while in custody and he’s been working.”
The court heard he has also contacted a residential drug facility.
Grove was jailed for two years, suspended after time already served. Convictions were recorded.
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