Different fates for drug-dealing couple

Judge disturbed at Sunshine Coast man's relapse into drug dealing

Most of the deals involved marijuana, but the operation started branching out to other drugs. Picture: Bill North

WHEN the cops returned his phone and he kept using it to deal drugs, his fate was sealed.

Sunshine Coast man Brent William Curran was caught in 2015 in raids targeting drug dealing in Little Mountain and Caloundra West.

He and his girlfriend Rhiann Wood were sentenced this week on charges of possessing and trafficking dangerous drugs.

Crown prosecutor Ron Swanwick told Brisbane District Court Curran effectively ran a "one stop shopping spot" selling drugs to about 20 customers.

Most of the dealing was of marijuana, with a small amount of ecstasy and cocaine sold.

Incriminating text messages were found on Curran's phone after a police raid in January 2015.

Police seized the phone, examined it, and returned it to Curran, who at that point was still a free man.

Police recorded his communications as he kept dealing, speaking openly about marijuana sales.

In March that year, police arrested Curran and Wood, who initially denied any involvement in drugs.

But both later admitted guilt and had made good progress since, holding down jobs.

The pair had supporters in court and provided references.

Curran's lawyer Julian Noud said his client had suffered from drug addiction at times.

Marijuana abuse was a factor in Curran's conviction for drug trafficking in 2009.

But he had found work since his arrest and was described as a reliable, hard-working man.

He had a job offer waiting for him after his release from prison.

Although Justice David Jackson praised Curran's "good work record" since 2015, his earlier conviction was a problem.

"You were well on notice to the likely outcome ... there can't be any excuses or real leniency shown."

Justice Jackson said Curran's drug profits "were not all that extensive" but it was "disturbing" he kept dealing even after the January 2015 police encounter.

He was sentenced to five years jail but will be eligible for parole on February 28, 2019.

The court heard Wood had been drug-free since at least July 2015, and had no prior criminal record.

Her lawyer David Crews said she got involved in dealing during "a vulnerable part of her life".

Justice Jackson said Wood acted "heedlessly and probably at times naively".

He said a period of supervision would serve her well.

She was released on parole immediately.

- NewsRegional

Originally published as Different fates for drug-dealing couple