Rockhampton’s Trent Charles Langley sentenced for trafficking meth

A drug addict busted with about $20,000 cash and 10g of meth on the side of the highway started trafficking as soon as he was released from prison for other drug offences, a court has heard.

Trent Charles Langley.

A “heavily using” drug addict busted with about $20,000 cash on the side of the highway and 10g of methamphetamines started trafficking as soon as he was released from prison for other drug offences, a court has heard.

Trent Charles Langley’s nerves got the better of him before he fronted court to receive his punishment for the four-month trafficking period, having to be ushered out of the dock momentarily for medical reasons before Justice Graeme Crow could enter the Supreme Court room in Rockhampton courthouse this morning.

Retching noises could be heard coming from the holding cell area before Langley was returned to the court room.

Justice Crow said Langley’s street level trafficking business, which commenced after he was released from prison on September 16, 2022, until he was arrested in January 2023, was detected during Queensland Police operation Uniform Rigel.

“It is deeply troubling that soon straight after your release, you go back to the drugs,” Justice Crow said.

Police had evidence via analysis of phone intercepts of at least 31 supplies.

Justice Crow said Langley, when interviewed by police, made admissions about his trafficking business.

Langley, 35, had a customer base of 20 to 30 people, with supplies of between 0.1g for $50 up to 3.5g for $1100 to “predominantly end users” for cash, credit or on tick.

Langley was intercepted driving on the Capricorn Highway on January 6, 2023, with police finding him in possession of $21,480 cash.

His residence was searched on January 27, 2023, where police found 9.991g of methamphetamines in 13.322g of substance along with clip-seal bags, a gram of marijuana, three mobile phones, scales, cut straws and a further $4015 in cash.

Defence barrister Nicholas Brown said his client, a father of three, was a heavy drug user at the time.

He said Langley turned to using meth after the relationship with the mother of his eldest child broke down.

Mr Brown said his client had two children aged five and four with his current partner.

He said Langley “had completed every program available to him” while remanded in custody.

Justice Crow said Langley had good motivations to rehabilitate and not return to drugs - his children.

Langley pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking drugs, possessing more than two grams of a schedule one drug, possessing a thing used in connection with trafficking drugs, possessing a dangerous drug, possessing a thing for use in connection of trafficking drugs and two of possessing tainted property.

Langley’s six-page criminal record included convictions for choking, assault occasioning bodily harm and drugs.

Justice Crow sentenced Langley to three years prison, wholly suspended with a three-year operational period.

Langley had spent 544 days in prison prior to sentence which was not declared as presentence custody.

Justice Crow also placed Langley on probation for 12 months.