Confessed drug dealer Gary Michael Campbell encouraged stabbing to collect debt

The alleged ringleader of a rural drug organisation has admitted to encouraging the stabbing of a woman who owed him a drug debt.

The accused ringleader of a rural drug syndicate admitted to his role in facilitating drug supply for a criminal organisation, even going so far as to partake in the stabbing of a woman who owed him a drug debt.

Gary Michael Campbell, 52, appeared via video link in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to four counts of possessing prohibited drugs, three counts of supplying prohibited drugs, supplying meth on an ongoing basis, custody of a knife in a public place, reckless wounding in company, and contributing to the activity of a criminal group.

Court documents reveal the Goulburn resident was involved in the regional drug ring between April 1 and September 30 last year. Police allege Campbell not only supplied the drugs, but met with people to buy and sell drugs on numerous occasions.

Gary Michael Campbell appeared in Goulburn Local Court on August 8. Picture: Craig Dunlop

Campbell sold methamphetamine on an ongoing basis from June 6 to August 25 for his own financial gain according to the court documents. Police allege he sold more than 5.5 grams of meth and 7 grams of cannabis throughout the Goulburn region over the months he operated. Phone taps set up by police intercepted numerous phone calls and texts about the supply and availability of meth and the repayment of debts.

Campbell was caught in the act at 2.30am on May 7 after police saw his silver Mazda whip around a street and the car stopped suddenly, according to court documents. Police allege Campbell got out of the car with two bags and began to walk quickly away from the officers calling for him to stop.

When police caught up to him, the facts show the officers searched Campbell for illegal drugs and found 6.21 grams of meth and 34.43 grams of cannabis in various resealable bags and hidden in the pockets of his bags and jacket.

According to the facts, police also found small resealable bags, a small set of functional scales and scoping implements, a knife, two mobile phones and $270 in cash. Police noted the phones were ringing constantly despite the late hour.

Months later, at around midnight on August 2, court documents show Campbell was confined to his home when a woman who owed him money was escorted to his house by the co-accused.

Police allege the woman had begun selling ice for Campbell in 2020 to feed her own habit. The facts show the woman proposed to buy a supply of drugs for Campbell from Wollongong with $7,000 he’d given her, but instead the money was stolen.

When the woman was brought to Campbell’s house in the middle of the night, court documents reveal the two began to loudly argue about the debt.

At Campbell’s urging, police facts show the co-accused Sharni North approached the woman and stabbed her in the thigh with a 8cm long yellow kitchen knife.

Gary Michael Campbell was arrested on August 25, 2020. Picture: file photo

While the victim sat on a bed and bled all over the covers, the police facts allege Campbell encouraged North to hit her before he ordered her to be taken home. Police say she required five stitches for the bloody wound.

The court heard North has pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to the woman and will appear in Goulburn District Court on October 11 for sentencing. Police allege Campbell had continuously used threats and violence to collect outstanding drug debts for the drug ring.

When he was arrested by police on August 25, officers noticed he was acting nervously and concealing something in his pants pocket, which turned out to be 3.79 grams of meth.

Campbell had previously been accused of being the kingpin of the drug syndicate, with 33 charges relating to drug supply, possession, and directing the activities of the criminal group.

However, the court heard the majority of the charges were withdrawn by the DPP and Campbell was downgraded to participating in a criminal group instead.

He will remain in custody on remand until he appears in Goulburn District Court on October 11 for sentencing.