Dean Russell Miller, of Lake Haven, sentenced over drug supply across the Central Coast

“I’m 51 years old and it’s time to quit.” Drug dealer Dean Russell Miller has learned his fate after supplying huge amounts of “ice” across the Central Coast.

A 51-year-old man who supplied large amounts of MDMA across the Central Coast has said “I don’t want this life”, a court has heard.

Dean Russell Miller appeared via audio visual link from jail before Gosford District Court on Friday where he was sentenced for supplying 691.75g of methylamphetamine over a four month period in 2020.

Judge Tanya Bright sentenced Miller to four years and nine months imprisonment with a non parole period of two years and four months.

Judge Bright said the offences reflected “serious criminality” with the supply of drugs having detrimental affects on the community and destroying lives.

Tuggerah Lakes Police officers attached to Strike Force Harle have seized seized drugs including methylamphetamine, GHB, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis with an estimated street value of nearly $250,000 and a further $210,000 cash in eight raids across the Central Coast. Picture: NSW Police

Miller was originally charged with 219 individual supply offices after his arrest on July 31 2020 however these were condensed to two counts of supplying commercial quantities of drugs.

In October 2021, Miller pleaded guilty to the two supply offences with five further charges, including dealing with proceeds of crime and supplying drugs, taken into account on sentence.

An agreed set of facts states that Tuggerah Lakes Police established Strike Force Harle in February 2020 to investigate the supply of methylamphetamine across the coast.

Between March and July 2020, Miller supplied 691.75g of ice over 193 transactions with a minimum supply of 0.2g and maximum of 28g.

“On the available evidence, the offender received at least $54,630 in payment and supplied to at least 65 different people,” the facts state.

Miller was arrested after raids were conducted by Strike Force Harle. Picture: NSW Police

Miller was found with more than $11,000 in cash. Picture: NSW Police

“Intercepted material analysed by investigators indicates that the cost of methylamphetamine went up significantly during the period, with the cost to the offender of obtaining 28g quantities of the drug increasing from $2800 to $10,500.”

The facts state that phone intercepts were used to track Miller’s activities and showed he was also a drug user.

In one call, Miller told an associate “most crack doesn’t do anything … I use heroin as well you know”.

Miller had no solid address and was staying at hotels and short stay accommodation before his arrest at Lake Haven Motor Inn where police seized 1.068L of Gamma Butyrolactone in a Mount Franklin water bottle with a 95 per cent purity and $11,880 cash.

Police also located 0.19g of heroin, 41 tablets of MDMA and a hand written tick list.

Judge Bright said at the time of offending, Miller was a street level and up-line supplier as well as a heavy user of drugs.

Miller’s arrest coincided with eight simultaneous raids across the coast as part of Strike Force Harle.

Miller was also found with heroin.

The court heard Miller, who grew up in western Sydney, turned to drugs at the age of 11 due to issues of abuse. He was taking speed by the age of 13 and was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.

The court heard that Miller, a father of two, told a psychologist “there’s no aspect of my life that hasn’t been affected by drugs”.

“I’m done with this, I’ve had enough,” Judge Bright read from one of his interviews.

“I’m 51 years old and it’s time to quit. I don't want this life. Everything is better off drugs, now I can make the right decisions”.

Miller gave evidence before court in June, saying “I didn’t go out to be a drug dealer, it just happened”.

Miller was sentenced in Gosford District Court. Picture: David Swift

“I was out of control. What (money) I made I used, I didn’t make money, I made drugs,” he said. “I’m ashamed at where my life got to, I understand more than anyone how drugs destroy people’s lives.”

Judge Bright said Miller, who had a lengthy criminal history, had shown remorse and accepted full responsibility for his actions, along with seeking rehabilitation.

His sentence was backdated to his arrest in July 2020 and he will be eligible for parole on

November 30 2022.

Judge Bright also ordered that the $11,880 cash that was seized in Miller’s motel room be forfeited.