‘Blessing in disguise’: Pro boxing trainer sentenced for trafficking
A Brisbane gym owner and professional boxing trainer who coached a number of Australian champions has been sentenced for trafficking cocaine.
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A high-profile boxing trainer caught trafficking cocaine has been given a suspended sentence after telling a court it was a “blessing in disguise” that he was caught.
Brisbane boxing coach Luke Joseph Meldon, 43, appeared in the Supreme Court on Monday where he told Acting Justice Anthony Rafter: “I realise the errors of my ways”.
“In a way it was a blessing in disguise because I turned my life around and have taken a lot of steps to make amends,” Meldon said.
“I feel I have and I’ve got a lot to offer by staying in the community.”
The Fortitude Boxing head coach, who has helped train a number of Australian champions, pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and possessing cash.
Prosecutor Neville Weston told the court that while Meldon was running the gym, he was also operating a “very intensive business of trafficking”, selling cocaine on more than 150 occasions to 47 customers over three months in 2018.
The court heard Queensland Police executed a search warrant at his Robina house in July 2018 and found 23g of cocaine, a 36g bottle of methadone and THC and $1455 in drug money.
Meldon was arrested but was released after 12 days later on bail.
Barrister Malcolm Harrison argued that his client’s “remarkable” rehabilitation efforts should allow the court to release Meldon on a suspended sentence.
“He has done everything within his power not only to rehabilitate himself but … he’s also given his own time freely to help others,” Mr Harrison said.
“He is a man, in my submission, who has taken very very significant steps to rehabilitate himself and a man who this court will have great confidence in him not returning to that previous lifestyle.”
The court heard Meldon had a good upbringing but turned to drugs following an eye-injury while working with his father in a hotel at Tenterfield.
Mr Harrison said that since his arrest, Meldon had remained drug-free and had turned his efforts to becoming a “powerful role model” for troubled youths and helping others with mental health issues.
More than 10 people gave references to the court detailing Meldon’s transformation, including Shannon O’Connell, who was trained by Melton and who previously held the IBA super-bantamweight title as well as the WBC Silver title.
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According to his business’s website, the Fortitude Boxing coach has also worked with Australian heavyweight champion Faiga Django Opelu the Australian light heavyweight champion Conor Wallace and the Australasian welterweight champion Ben Kite.
Acting Justice Anthony Rafter said the trainer’s genuine remorse coupled with his significant steps to rehabilitate had convinced him that Meldon did not need to return to prison.
Meldon was sentenced to four years’ jail, which was suspended immediately after he had served 12 days in pre-sentence custody.
He was also ordered to serve two years’ probation.
A conviction was recorded.
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