Damian John Arnold, 46, sold tenants’ cars at Walterhall in exchange for Bundaberg Rum carton

A convicted drug trafficker sentenced only last month for his role in a drug syndicate has faced court again - this time for selling his former tenants’ cars for a carton of Bundaberg rum.

A convicted drug trafficker sentenced only last month for his role in a drug syndicate has faced court again - this time for selling his former tenants’ cars for a carton of Bundaberg rum.

Damian John Arnold, 46, pleaded guilty on March 2 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to two counts of fraud and one count each of possessing a dangerous drug, possessing drug utensils, possessing tainted property and possessing a knife.

He had been sentenced in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton on February 17 for drug trafficking in 2019 and 2020, making $57,000 per week from the illegal activity.

Defence lawyer Jess King said the car incident on October 25, 2020, arose after her client’s tenants had moved out of the Walterhall residence, left three vehicles parked at the residence, owed her client rent money and there was issues surrounding damage to the property.

She said Arnold had moved back into the residence and had contacted Rockhampton Regional Council about getting the vehicles removed after they were left there by the tenants.

Ms King said council had issued notices to the owners of the vehicles, advising the vehicles would be removed by council if they were not relocated by the owners by October 25.

She said the man who approached Arnold about purchasing the vehicles had approached him on October 25 and Arnold believed he had the right to sell the vehicles as the council notice had that day’s date on it.

However, Ms King said the notice had specified to be removed by 5pm on October 25.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said one of the victims had been contacted by someone else about 1pm on October 25, telling them their vehicles were loaded on the back of a tow truck.

She said the victim followed the tow truck until it stopped and was informed of Arnold’s arrangement.

Ms Bain said Arnold exchanged a white Commodore and a green and silver Triton for 24 cans of premix Bundaberg rum, telling the man the tenant owed him seven months rent and “I might as well get something out of them”.

She said Arnold also told the man the keys to the cars were lost.

Arnold had been busted possessing two glass pipes, four electronic scales, clip-seal bags and bundles of cash believed to be tainted property when police executed a search warrant on a residence at The Range on April 5, 2020.

Ms Bain said there was $7165 in cash in bundles upstairs and downstairs.

He was found possessing marijuana and a knife on June 22, 2020, after being intercepted driving in Berserker.

Ms King said since Arnold’s release from custody in December 2021, he had obtained employment with AE Civil and Mining Construction on a 12-month contract and had already been offered another contract to start at the end of the current one.

Magistrate Cameron Press sentenced Arnold to six months’ prison with immediate parole.