Brent Andrew Loveridge sentenced in Brisbane Supreme Court for dealing meth, marijuana and cocaine

A New Zealand citizen with a history of drug offences is at risk of being deported to his home country after police discovered he was dealing meth, marijuana, MDMA and cocaine.

A New Zealand citizen with a history of drug offences is at risk of having his visa cancelled and being deported to his home country after police discovered he was dealing meth, marijuana, MDMA and cocaine.

When police searched Brent Andrew Loveridge’s Narangba home in 2020 they found clip seal bags containing meth and cocaine, glass pipes, a clip seal bag with 5g of marijuana, a homemade taser in the shape of a torch and scales.

Loveridge, 37, was home with his partner during the search and police seized both their phones however when officers later unlocked Loveridge’s phone they realised it had been wiped remotely and reset.

His drug dealing then came to light after police obtained a search warrant and received 10 to 12 days’ worth of Loveridge’s stored data from Optus, which revealed he had organised 12 supplies of meth, marijuana and cocaine in that time.

On one occasion, Loveridge organised to supply an unknown quantity of meth for some jewellery and $600 cash, the Brisbane Supreme Court heard.

He also supplied “two points” of meth for $170, another 0.5g of meth for $250, an unknown amount of marijuana for $40 and MDMA and cocaine for unknown amounts.

Loveridge pleaded guilty on Wednesday to 12 counts of supplying a dangerous drug and one count of possessing dangerous drugs specified in schedule 1 or 2.

The court heard Loveridge had a history of drug offences and came before the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court in 2013, 2019 and 2020 for possessing marijuana, possessing marijuana and MDMA and for producing marijuana, respectively.

In 2021 he was dealt at the Beaudesert Magistrates Court for offences including possessing a pipe.

Loveridge’s defence barrister said the New Zealand national was working to get his life back on track and that sometimes people have “hiccups” and fall back into drug use.

The court heard Loveridge had attended a GP for a mental health plan, which he had not started yet, and that he was considering taking further steps to assist him to stay on “the right path”.

Judge Nicole Kefford sentenced Loveridge to 18 months imprisonment to be suspended for 18 months.

He was also sentenced to 18 months on probation and she ordered the forfeiture of all drug-related property.

Judge Kefford said if Loveridge was ordered to serve time in actual custody it would result in an automatic visa cancellation and deportation.

However, she said the Minister for Home Affairs still could use their discretion to cancel his visa for a number of reasons, including because people who have ever been sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment (regardless of time actually served) are at risk of cancellation.

The court heard Loveridge’s partner was previously dealt with and had been fined $1000 with no conviction recorded.