Townsville Supreme Court: Christopher James Cantle sentenced for drug trafficking methamphetamine on parole

A drug dealer who was at his supplier’s house when he got caught told police the supply messages on his phone were for ‘home brew’ sales.

Townsville Supreme Court: Christopher James Cantle sentenced for drug trafficking methamphetamine on parole. Picture: Facebook

A man who started trafficking drugs as soon as he was released from jail on parole, put forward a bizarre excuse to police officers as to why he was at his supplier’s home when the police arrived to search the property.

Christopher James Cantle appeared in Townsville Supreme Court on Friday morning after police uncovered his string of trafficking.

Crown prosecutor Shannon Sutherland told the court the 33-year-old was released on parole after serving close to three years in jail on January 9 last year, and less than two months later started trafficking methamphetamine.

She said the man had 32 customers and engaged in over 125 supplies over a five and a half month period, where he would sell “half balls” and “balls” (3.5g) of methamphetamine, but did not always discuss prices.

During the trafficking period Cantle was intercepted by police multiple times where he was found in possession of small quantities of methamphetamine and clip seal bags, and at one point ran away from police and had to be tackled, Ms Sutherland said.

However it wasn’t until he was at the house of his supplier and her partner that police showed up and went through his phone uncovering the deals, the court was told.

It was said when confronted about the messages Cantle told police he was just selling “home brew” and had come to his supplier’s house for a lift.

When he was interviewed again he told police he had sold drugs but only on 10 occasions, the prosecution said.

“He made partial admissions and said sometimes people would exchange stolen goods for drugs,” Ms Sutherland said.

“It was a spree of offending over a number of months.

“The customer base was large and although at a street level there were occasionally larger supplies.”

Defence barrister Darin Honchin instructed by Resolute Legal told the court the man who had previous employment in doing yard work and working on a chicken farm had started using marijuana as a teen before moving to chroming.

“He swore to his mother he wouldn’t do marijuana any more but he continued with alcohol,” Mr Honchin said.

It was after he was charged with a number of public nuisance offences related to alcohol and suffering health complications that Cantle turned to ice, according to his lawyer.

Justice David North emphasised the significance drugs has on the community when handing down a sentence.

“Drugs are associated with collateral crime, like property offending, stealing and violence sometimes,” His Honour said.

“Addicts will go to great lengths to get their hands on drugs.”

Cantle pleaded guilty to 27 charges which included drug trafficking, supplying and possession.

He was sentenced to five years’ jail with a parole eligibility date of May 21, 2025. His Honour declared the 309 days spent in pre-sentence custody as time served.

Originally published as Townsville Supreme Court: Christopher James Cantle sentenced for drug trafficking methamphetamine on parole