Jaidan Khan Thorpe, 28, jailed after importing pill press machine, possessing drugs for debt

A young dad trying to settle drug debts has been jailed after importing a pill press – and having drugs mailed to his Adelaide home.

A young dad jailed over more than $170,000 worth of drugs found in his home – and a pill press – told his children he was “away working” while in custody, a court has heard.

Jaidan Khan Thorpe, 28, appeared in the District Court on Wednesday for sentencing after importing a pill press machine from China, and possessing nearly 500g of a meth-like substance, in an attempt to pay off his drug debts.

The prosecution previously told the court a parcel set to be delivered to Thorpe’s Prospect home had been intercepted by police, who located 493g of N-cyclohexylmethylone inside – a drug with “similar effects to methamphetamine” – which could have been sold for up to $172,000.

“The attempted trafficking file involves a police investigation into a pill press that was imported from China, and it was addressed to the defendant’s address,” they said.

“In his recorded interview, the defendant admitted to police that he was expecting a drug delivery and he was going to hand the parcel on to someone else in order to satisfy a drug debt.”

Jaidan Thorpe was sentenced in the District Court on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook

The Prospect dad was busted with over $170,000 worth of drugs. Picture: Facebook

They further submitted police later attended the Comfort Inn Hotel “in relation to an unrelated investigation”, after they received information Thorpe was residing there.

The prosecution alleged nearly 40g of drugs was located in plastic bags behind a picture frame in Thorpe’s hotel room, along with 47.9g of GHB hidden inside a Coke bottle.

Thorpe was initially charged with three counts of drug trafficking, however, he pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking, and offered to plead guilty to possession instead of the third trafficking charge. Prosecutors were not opposed to the change, and accepted the alternative charge.

Adam Richards, for Thorpe, told the court his client didn’t stand to make a significant profit from the sale of the drugs – selling them only to “provide for his own habit”.

On Wednesday, Judge Telfer sentenced Thorpe to four years, eight months and 23 days imprisonment with a non-parole period of three years, nine months and 12 days.

She noted Thorpe had been telling his children he was “away working” during his time in custody.

The sentence was backdated to April 1, 2023, meaning Thorpe will be eligible for parole in January 2027.

Originally published as Jaidan Khan Thorpe, 28, jailed after importing pill press machine, possessing drugs for debt