Why Mitchell Trevanion asked for tougher drug sentence

A former sawmill worker who was hooked on drugs has told a Fraser Coast court of his childhood and youth, and why he did not want to be put on probation.

Mitchell James Trevanion pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs when he faced Maryborough Supreme Court last week.

It’s not often a defendant will ask for a tougher penalty when facing court.

But Mundubbera’s Mitchell James Trevanion did just that when he pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs when he faced the Maryborough Supreme Court in late November 2022.

The court heard while Trevanion was set to be placed on probation, he instead asked to be given a suspended jail sentence because of his elderly grandparents who live interstate.

One of the stipulations of probation would be that he could not leave the state without permission, the court heard.

Trevanion represented himself during the sentencing on November 28.

The court heard he had supplied small amounts of meth on three occasions, and had come to police attention after text messages about supplying the drugs were found.

Trevanion told the court he had started using drugs when he was young, due to his mother also using drugs.

“I was caught up in that sort of scene,” he said.

Trevanion suffered from “extreme PTSD and extreme depression and anxiety”, the court heard.

He had started taking drugs heavily “after being shot in 2016” and losing his brother to suicide.

After that Trevanion said he spiralled out of control for a time, but in the past year had been seeking help for his mental health and addiction.

Mitchell James Trevanion pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs when he faced Maryborough Supreme Court last week.

“I’m very happy to say I haven’t actually touched drugs since January this year,” he told the court.

Trevanion said he had sought help for his mental health in a number of different ways.

“Being charged has actually scared me,” he said.

“This is the first time I have been charged with something serious.”

He said he had a partner of nine years, stable accommodation and a four-year-old daughter who he cared for while his partner was at work.

Trevanion said he had worked in the past in sawmills.

He said he wanted a suspended prison sentence rather than probation “if possible”.

“My grandparents down in New South Wales are sick and if I was to do probation I wouldn’t be able to leave Queensland.”

Justice Peter Applegarth said he would be able to with permission.

But he said he understood why a suspended sentence would have some attraction.

Justice Applegarth asked if there was any way Trevanion’s grandmother could come to see him, but he said she was in hospital and “not too well”.

“It would be a shame if you couldn't get permission to go see her,” he said.

Justice Applegarth said he would include the reasons why Trevanion would benefit from having permission to leave the state in his sentencing remarks, which could then be shown to the probation office.

He said meth was a dangerous drug, but Trevanion had managed to get himself off drugs after seeking help.

Justice Applegarth said Trevanion wanted to see his grandmother in New South Wales before she died.

But Trevanion was concerned he would not be able to see her if he was placed on probation and could not get permission, he would not be able to leave the state.

“You were even prepared to submit to a short period of imprisonment wholly suspended,” he said.

“I thought about that, but it seems to me I shouldn’t impose imprisonment where that’s not the most appropriate sentence.”

Trevanion was placed on 12 months’ probation.

Convictions were recorded.