Nigel John Stuart, 45, sentenced for selling drugs, caught with $11k in cash

A street level dealer who was caught with 1.2kg of GHB and over $11k in cash, sold drugs to fuel his addiction and has been sentenced in court.

Nigel Stuart was sentenced to jail in Gosford for supply drugs.

A street-level dealer who was caught with 1.2kg of GHB and over $11,000 in cash had been selling drugs to fuel his addiction and has been sentenced in court.

Nigel John Stuart, 45, is set to live in Muswellbrook upon his eventual release and was sentenced to a maximum term of 40 months in jail.

Stuart appeared via video link at Gosford District Court on Tuesday morning after pleading guilty to several charges, including supplying a prohibited drug, possession of a prohibited drug, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

According to police facts, Stuart was the subject of several outstanding warrants for evading police.

Officers spotted Stuart riding his bike at Mingara, where he was cautioned and arrested before being taken to Wyong Police Station.

A search of his bag uncovered $11,330 in cash, a tick list, and 1.2kg of GHB.

Police also found several ID documents, a black mobile phone, a small notebook containing terms related to money owed, an empty syringe, 10ml of steroids, and a small amount of meth.

Nigel Stuart was sentenced in the Gosford District Court on Tuesday morning.

An analysis of Stuart’s phone revealed various messages between him and a contact.

The messages showed that Stuart owed the man thousands of dollars and needed to continue selling drugs until his debt was cleared.

During the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, the court heard that Stuart was “remorseful” and “wanted his life back.”

Stuart’s sister gave evidence in court that her brother had made a “complete change” since starting a rehabilitation program in prison.

“He has patience when you talk to him now,” she said.

The court also heard that Stuart began smoking cannabis at the age of 14, started using ice at 27, and began using GHB in 2023.

The court was told that Stuart grew up in a disadvantaged environment, was shot during a home invasion when he was younger, and was lucky to survive.

Stuart told his psychologist that he needed to grow up.

The court heard that upon his release from custody, Stuart plans to engage in a positive lifestyle.

In sentencing, Judge David Wilson said the crimes were “very serious offences.”

Stuart was sentenced to a maximum of 40 months in jail, backdated to June 1, 2024.

He will be eligible for parole on January 29, 2026.