Caine Rootes: Dubbo builder to be sentenced for dealing drugs
The girlfriend of a Dubbo cocaine and cannabis dealer has told a court that while he gave her cannabis oil to cope with the side effects of cancer treatment, she never knew he was dealing drugs. She is now pleading for him to be released from prison.
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A Dubbo man involved in a major drug syndicate has pleaded guilty to supplying 14.2 grams of cocaine and 75.9 kilograms of cannabis.
Caine Leslie Rootes, 30, also pleaded guilty to knowingly dealing with $420,000 in proceeds of crime when he was arraigned at the Dubbo District Court on Wednesday.
Rootes was arrested in March last year in major drug busts at Dubbo and in the Hunter Valley.
The former builder was supported in court by his mother, stepfather, half-sisters and girlfriend Kylie Willoughby.
When called to give evidence at Rootes’ sentencing hearing, Ms Willoughby told defence barrister Felicity Graham that she knew her boyfriend smoked cannabis and used cocaine.
Ms Willoughby said when she battled ovarian cancer the cannabis oil Rootes sourced helped her get out of bed and watch her children play football.
“It’s not something that I used every day,” she said.
The former nurse said Rootes did everything for her and their family when she was ill and struggled to function normally.
“He did the kids, he did the house … he would shower me, he did both our jobs and worked full-time while doing it as well,” she said.
“Not many people that age would have done that for somebody else. I’ve got seven sisters and I couldn’t imagine any of their boyfriends stepping up and doing for them what he did for me.”
When cross examined by Crown prosecutor Katherine White, Ms Willoughby said Rootes first told her about his cocaine habit in late 2018.
“I knew that he was using it himself, I did not know he was selling it,” Ms Willoughby said.
“I think he’s needed professional help ever since his father passed away … he went downhill.”
Ms Willoughby said she was “not entirely aware” Rootes spent $100,000 repairing a car.
“It’s not that I’m stupid, I was here, there and everywhere and I didn’t have time to watch him,” she said.
The time Rootes has spent behind bars since his arrest has made him a changed man, Ms Willoughby told the court.
“Before he went in he was quite a delinquent, since he’s been in there his attitude has changed.
“He’s just grown up a lot in the last 18 months.
“I think he’s actually realised what he’s done didn’t just affect him, it’s affected me, it’s affected the kids and I think he realises the serious consequences of what he did.”
Ms Graham told the court she intended to ask Judge Nanette Williams to make a finding of special circumstances in Rootes’ case and would argue he had served enough time behind bars and should be released.
Ms White said the Crown disagreed and wanted to cross examine a psychologist who authored a report about Rootes which was submitted as evidence.
Judge Nanette Williams adjourned the case to November 19 and said she would seek to finalise it before the end of the year.