Lewis Steven Donald Maxted arrested for dealing drugs in Caloundra West

A Sunshine Coast engineer who arranged drug supplies worth more than $1000 a pop has tried to explain his reason for turning to crime. Here is what he said when he faced the magistrate.

A Sunshine Coast engineer’s seven-month long drug dealing business came crashing down when police raided his unit.

Lewis Steven Donald Maxted dealt marijuana in Caloundra West 10 times between December 2021 and June 2022, with some transactions worth more than $1000.

Caloundra Magistrates Court was told officers raided the 24-year-old’s unit on September 26 and seized his phone which showed the transactions.

Lewis Steven Donald Maxted leaving Caloundra Magistrates Court.

Police prosecutor Amanda Brewer said text messages showed Maxted was “conducting a business”, which ultimately led to his arrest.

Defence lawyer Meagan Ammann said the machinery engineer started buying drugs off the street because he couldn’t get his medical marijuana prescription filled at the pharmacy.

She said her client was then selling drugs on the side to pay for his personal supply and denied he was making a profit.

Magistrate Catherine Benson questioned this claim, noting the deals were across several months and for amounts between $340 and $1350, and saying the cimes only stopped because he was caught.

Maxted pleaded guilty to 10 counts of supplying drugs, and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.

He was placed on probation for eight months.