Hamlyn Terrace: Ex-navy sailer turned Rebels bikie Butch Junior Tye sentenced for drug supply

A former navy sailor who dropped out of the military when he wasn’t accepted into special forces, before joining the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, has been sentenced for drug supply.

Former navy sailor turned Rebels bikie Butch Junior Tye, 33, of Kanwal, was sentenced for supplying drugs and possessing steroids. Picture: Facebook

A former defence force member — who dropped out of the navy and turned to an outlaw motorcycle gang — has learnt his fate in court after been sentenced on drug supply charges.

Butch Junior Tye, of Kanwal, faced Gosford District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to deemed supply of methylamphetamine and two related charges of possessing steroids.

The court heard the 33-year-old joined the navy after leaving school but became “disillusioned” when it wouldn’t accept his applications to join a special forces unit.

The court heard Tye was still “calling out for some acceptance” and found it in the Rebels outlaw motorcycle group (OMCG) which “embraced him with open arms”.

However his defence barrister said Tye had been bullied in the navy and left after he was sexually assaulted.

The court heard Tye was bullied and sexually assaulted in the navy. Picture: file

An agreed set of facts states a firearm prohibition order (FPO) was made against Tye with police going to his Kanwal address at 9am on November 9, 2021 to serve the order and conduct a search.

Police opened the fridge in the kitchen and found a 30mL vial of clenbuterol in the door along with six vials of melantonan 2.

Another officer located a compartment under the oven which had a Coles shopping bag with various vials of steroids and human growth hormones.

While searching the downstairs basement of the house officers located a magnetic lockbox attached to the underside of a toolbox.

Inside the lockbox officers found a clear resealable plastic bag containing 64.05g of methylamphetamine with a purity of 74.5 per cent.

Police found 64g of methylamphetamine in a hidden lockbox. (File image)

On a bench nearby were more plastic resealable bags of various sizes and a set of scales in the toolbox.

“It is notable that the drugs’ location in a hidden container with the presence of scales and plastic bags, together with the amount of drugs, suggests a role greater than street level or user dealer,” Judge S Smith said.

However Judge Smith said the steroids found at the property were clearly for “personal use” and at the low end of objective seriousness.

“He joined the navy where he fitted in and developed friendships,” Judge Smith said.

“Returning from a tour he underwent a traditional humiliation on board a ship and says he was also sexually assaulted. This devastated him and he left the navy. He found welcome in an outlaw motorcycle gang in Perth where he lived until he was shot in 2013.”

Judge Smith said Tye’s criminal history “developed quickly” on his return to NSW where he progressed from breaking and entering and drug possession charges to some “very serious offences” in 2015 including assault, affray and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

“In the nine years from the age of 24 Mr Tye has spent over six years and five months in prison,” Judge Smith said.

Tye was sentenced in Gosford District Court on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The court heard Tye was still on parole for these offences when he was caught with the ice and steroids.

Tye wrote a letter to the court stating he had reached a “turning point” in his life and given he had a young family he was determined to stay out of trouble.

However the Crown prosecutor said the letter was hauntingly familiar to another he wrote to the court three years earlier after being charged with previous offences in which he stated he was also at a turning point and his time making “reckless decisions” was over.

Judge Smith said some offenders had “bigger turning circles” than others and accepted his remorse.

Judge Smith convicted Tye and sentenced him to two years jail with a non-parole period of one year and three months.

With time served he will be eligible for release on February 8, 2023.

He was also put on a community corrections order for 12 months.