Young Maroochydore meth trafficker jailed for ‘deplorable’ offences

A Sunshine Coast teenager will finally have a permanent criminal record after being granted dozens of chances by judges and magistrates.

A young Sunshine Coast ice trafficker, whose period of dealing partially occurred when he was a juvenile, has been jailed for a year and finally had convictions recorded, after 34 previous orders failed to stem his offending.

The 18-year-old from Maroochydore, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had a staggering criminal history, Brisbane District Court heard on Monday, including offences relating to drugs, property and, more seriously, violence, including armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.

The court heard the teen, who moved to Ashgrove following the offending, had previously been sentenced to 10 probation orders, six community service orders, one intensive correction order, 12 custodial sentences, and four conditional release orders.

A Maroochydore 18-year-old has been jailed for a year for trafficking in ice and has had, for the first time, convictions recorded, despite racking up no fewer than 34 separate orders by courts previously. Picture: Facebook

Incredibly, no convictions were recorded on any of these occasions.

The court heard the current offending, which the teen pleaded guilty to, involved carrying on the business of trafficking in ice for about six weeks between May 25 and July 7 last year.

When a search warrant was executed, the teen was found in possession of a quantity of cash and a mobile phone used to conduct the business.

The court heard the teen had at least five customers and supplied or offered to supply ice on at least 12 occasions over the trafficking period.

His gross turnover was $3812.65, although it was not possible to discern what, if any, amount of that was profit.

Defence counsel Damien Gates told the court his client trafficked for the purpose of feeding his own raging ice addiction.

"There was no profit," he told the court.

"Any benefit was just to obtain drugs for himself."

Justice Glenn Martin told the court reports tendered on the teen's behalf showed he was "remorseful during periods of sobriety (but was) unable or unwilling to engage meaningfully in interventions".

The teen is currently serving out a sentence for which parole was indefinitely suspended, with a full-time release date in October.

Justice Martin extended this by sentencing the teen to 12 months' imprisonment, with parole release after serving 50 per cent, which will be on November 21 this year.

Mr Gates submitted no convictions ought to be recorded.

"He shows insight to offending, he is an articulate young man," Mr Gates said.

"He may be able to abstain from drug use moving forward."

Justice Martin was incredulous.

"This man has been warned so many times," he said.

Convictions were recorded on all three counts, although only two, possessing the mobile phone and cash relating to his drug trafficking operation, will appear on his adult criminal history.

Originally published as 'Deplorable': Juvenile ice trafficker finally convicted after 34 chances