Innisfail drug dealer Gregory Griffin sentenced on drug and driving charges

An Innisfail drug dealer has been disqualified from holding a drivers licence until at least 2046 as he was sentenced on driving and drug charges.

Cairns Courthouse

An Innisfail drug dealer has been disqualified from holding a driver licence until at least 2046 as he was sentenced on driving and drug charges.

Former pastry chef and roofer turned dealer, Gregory Marla Griffin, pleaded guilty to six charges in Innisfail Magistrates Court on Tuesday, including possession and supply of cannabis, possessing items used in commission of a crime and two counts of driving while disqualified.

Police prosecutor Jonathan Hanley told the court Griffin had a 13-page criminal history which included numerous drug convictions and 20 previous convictions for driving while disqualified.

“I’ve never seen a traffic history with that extent of disqualified drives,” he said.

“He is already disqualified from driving till 2042.”

An Innisfail drug dealer has been disqualified from holding a drivers license until at least 2046 as he was sentenced on driving and drug charges. Photo: File

Mr Henley told the court the man faced charges after he was caught in possession of five grams of cannabis and two telephones were seized revealing more than 60 messages related to the supply of dangerous drugs over a period of almost three years.

Griffin’s solicitor, Christopher Blishen, conceded the man was “not a stranger to the court”.

He told the court Griffin was born in Papua New Guinea but had moved to Australia when he was a one-year-old.

He was introduced to drugs at the age of 15 but was able to work as an apprentice pastry chef for three years before drug addiction took hold in the fourth year.

He then worked in roofing and farm work in the Torres Strait and Innisfail.

Mr Blishen confirmed to the court Griffin had further charges being progressed to the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Magistrate Scott Luxton labelled Griffin a recidivist offender and that despite being sentenced previously to the maximum of 18 months’ imprisonment for disqualified driving, he continued to do so.

“Your offending has continued unabated after your release from jail,” he told Griffin.

He sentenced the man to nine months’ imprisonment for the drug supply and 15 months for driving while disqualified, to be served concurrently.

Griffin was further disqualified from driving for a further four years, extending the period to 2046.

Originally published as Innisfail drug dealer Gregory Griffin sentenced on drug and driving charges