Matthew, Brett Pearce and Aaron Macey: Three in court over Hunter drug syndicate
Drug kingpin Matthew Pearce continues to hold up justice with parties struggling to come to agreement over facts, as brother Brett inches a step closer to learning his fate in a Hunter drug ring which involved former NRL star Jarrod Mullen.
Newcastle
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The kingpin of a Hunter drug syndicate, which involved former NRL star Jarrod Mullen and the brother of NRL player Willie Mason, will wait even longer to learn his fate, with a “significant” dispute over facts a major roadblock.
Matthew Shane Pearce, 35, a former Newcastle personal trainer was among five men arrested in December 2018 as the major player in a massive drug ring operating across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, which supplied cocaine and the potentially deadly industrial solvent Butanediol, an alternative to party drug GHB.
Operation Castlestead was formed to identify those involved and uncover who they were allegedly supplying to.
Pearce pleaded guilty to supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and importing a border controlled drug.
In Newcastle District Court on Friday the Crown Prosecutor Hamish Fitzharding said they were not ready to proceed with sentencing with disputed facts still an issue, plus the Crown had further evidence to call.
“An extract from a surveillance device is being prepared and should take a week to prepare documents alone,” he said.
The matter will head back in court next week.
But proceedings for Matthew’s brother, Brett, did move forward as the 33-year-old emotionally told the court via video link he felt “disgusting every day” and “wanted to be a better man”.
Brett Robert Pearce — who pleaded guilty to the supply and manufacture of prohibited drugs – was mainly recruited for transportation in the operation and was under the instructions of his brother, according to police facts.
Working as a courier for his brother he earned thousands of dollars making trips up and back to Sydney.
In November 2018, police watched the brothers closely and intercepted phone conversations which uncovered drug deals being done and eventually led to their arrest.
“I’ve suffered with drug abuse for quite a while,” Brett Pearce told the court.
“I got to the point I was using more drugs than I could afford and this opportunity came up and I could keep a roof over my wife and sons head.”
He sobbed, saying his time in custody meant he had missed his young son growing up.
“I feel I have split a lot of families apart, including my own,” he said.
“It’s an evil thing. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self this is where I would end up.
“I don’t ever want to be a part of this again.”
His Barrister Peter Strickland said it was clear the facts confirmed his role in the syndicate as a “broker”.
Comparing him with Les Mason – who was sentenced for his involvement in March – Mr Strickland said the former boxer had a much greater role than Brett Pearce. He also mentioned Mason was on an intensive corrections order at the time.
“If on parity the offender should receive a lesser sentence,” he added.
Sydney socialite Aaron Macey — who also pleaded guilty to supplying butanediol and cocaine — was up next.
His lawyer said weight was irrelevant and cited Macey had “limited involvement” in the matter.
“There is limited evidence of this offenders exact role except of his two deliveries,” he said.
“Mason and Matthew Pearces’ involvement is more sophisticated.
“Matthew Pearce told multiple people including Macey that it was legal and he believed it.”
Judge Peter Whitford SC told the court he needed time to consider the result, with Brett Pearce and Macey to be further sentenced on May 22.
In February, former Newcastle Knights captain Jarrod Mullen was spared a jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to one charge of supplying cocaine.
The 32-year-old was given a two years community corrections order and 300 hours community service.