Tree lopper Glenn James Stubbs sentenced for cocaine supply

A Southern Highlands tree lopper who was busted negotiating more than $5000 worth of cocaine deals as part of a wider police investigation has been sentenced for his crimes.

A magistrate said he “could hear a cell door shutting” when reading about the case of a Southern Highlands tree lopper who was busted negotiating more than $5000 worth of cocaine deals.

Glenn James Stubbs, 35, appeared at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday for two counts of possessing a prohibited drug and one count of supplying a prohibited drug on three or more separate occasions for financial gain.

The Welby local, who previously pleaded guilty to the offences, was discovered by the Hume Police District who were investigating the supply of cocaine and other prohibited drugs at licensed premises in the Southern Highlands.

Glenn Stubbs was sentenced on Tuesday at Moss Vale Local Court for possessing and supplying cocaine in the Southern Highlands.

Their controlled operations identified the tree lopper as a supplier between January and March, with police facts tendered to the court stating his actions were conducted “openly and blatantly and with complete disregard for law”.

Court documents state on February 12 Stubbs was caught on camera walking through the pizzeria area of the Imperial Hotel in Bowral at night, when he pulled his phone out from his pocket and a small bag of white powder fell out onto the ground.

Police claim the bag, which documents state contained 0.9 grams of cocaine, remained on the floor for nearly 20 minutes before it was collected by a staff member, who contacted the police and reviewed the security footage of the area.

Police claim that one gram bags of cocaine were negotiated to cost $300.

The staff member recognised the accused as someone who had previously applied to work at the Imperial Hotel as an RSA marshall, according to police facts.

Following this, the pub employee told him he’d been captured dropping the bag of drugs on the floor and asked him to leave.

When being escorted out, police facts say that Stubbs unsuccessfully asked the staff member for his drugs back.

Though according to court documents, his ejection from the pub didn’t dent his business as only a short time later on February 17 he sold 5.53 grams of cocaine for $2400.

Facts also state that a month later Stubbs negotiated the supply of 10 grams of cocaine – an indictable quantity – which police allege was for $3000, although he failed to show up for the handover.

After a search of his home in Welby, he was arrested the following week on March 17, and currently resides at Buxton.

Police found and seized cocaine, mobile phones, and drug paraphernalia at his home in Welby. Picture: Hume Police District

Magistrate Mark Douglass said on Tuesday that “ongoing supply is serious.”

“The court recognises the serious social implications from drug dealing,” Magistrate Douglass said.

“There must be a deterrent.”

Documents state that Stubbs also has a record, with previous convictions including aggravated break and enter, numerous warrants and failing to adhere to bail conditions.

Though Magistrate Douglass pointed out the “positive” reports the court had received from Stubbs’ employer and that going to prison could “sever” him from work and “expose him to drugs.”

“In an ordinary case there would be no sentence other than imprisonment,” Magistrate Douglass said.

“But Mr Doughty (Stubbs’ lawyer) has convinced me that you ought not go to jail.

“You’ll need to thank him (as) when I first read (the police facts), I could hear a cell door shutting.”

With a discount of 25 per cent due to an early guilty plea, Stubbs was sentenced to a 22-month Intensive Corrections Order.

As part of the sentence, he will serve 12 months in home detention and have to comply with a supervision plan.