Willie Mason’s brother, Les, jailed over drug supply
Les Mason, the brother of former NRL player Willie Mason, has been jailed over the supply of a large commercial quantity of drugs.
Newcastle
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A lifestyle of partying, which involved plenty of alcohol and drugs including ecstacy and cocaine, were all part of Les Mason’s life before he got mixed up in a massive Hunter drug syndicate, a court has heard.
The brother of former NRL player Willie Mason, 41, acted as a “broker”, collecting and transporting 50 litres of Butanediol, used as a substitute to party drug GHB, to a purchaser.
On Thursday, supported by emotional family members, he learnt his fate.
After he pleaded guilty to the supply of a large commercial quantity of drugs last year, Mason was sentenced to stay behind bars for another three years and three months, not eligible for release until at least June 2022.
In August 2018, investigators set up Strike Force Castlestead to investigate the activities of the alleged head of the syndicate Matthew Shane Pearce, targeting the importation and supply of a large commercial quantity of drugs in the Hunter and Greater Sydney area.
Police facts stated in October a consignment from China was intercepted, with five boxes containing 50 litres of Butanediol, set for delivery next door to Mr Pearce.
Through surveillance, police captured Mason placing the drugs into his boot at a Cameron Park home, drive to a shopping centre and place it in the rear of an unidentified man’s car.
The court heard listening devices also allegedly discovered Pearce didn’t receive payment for the 50 litres of drugs - which sold for about $1000 a litre - and he had held Mason accountable.
Mason later made phone calls to the purchaser in an attempt to recover the money and despite being promised $12 to $14,000 in payment for his involvement, received nothing.
It all came to a head when Mason was among five men arrested in December, 2018, accused of supplying large quantities of the drug, a potentially deadly industrial solvent used to make paint thinner.
The court heard he made full admissions to the knowledge of the importation and supply of drugs but admitted he was not involved in the decision making.
In Newcastle District Court on Thursday Judge Tim Gartelmann said Mason’s motive was financial reward, however the offences occurred in the context of perceived need.
He noted Mason committed the offences while serving an intensive corrections order after being convicted of supplying prohibited drugs in 2017 and that added weight to situation.
But told the court there was evidence of remorse.
“The offender exhibited great shame, letting people down and expressed interest in giving back to the community,” Judge Gartelmann said.
“He accepted that drug supply harms the community. He has accepted responsibility warranting a find of remorse.”
He was handed down a six-year sentence, with a non-parole period of three years and three months, which means he’ll be eligible for parole in June 2022.
Also allegedly involved in the syndicate, Matthew Shane Pearce and brother Brett Robert Pearce are facing drug supply and manufacture charges, while Aaron Macey and Jay Ramsden are facing drug supply charges. Matters are before the courts.