Luke Tuffin jailed over drugs and stolen goods

A Toora man busted with drugs, stolen goods and firearms says his life went downhill after he got in with the wrong crowd and onto the gear.

Luke Tuffin was sentenced to five months in prison.

A Toora man caught with 25 bags of cannabis seeds and stolen goods has been jailed for five months.

Luke Tuffin pleaded guilty in Korumburra Magistrates Court to charges including retaining stolen goods, possessing cannabis, psilocybin, possessing a firearm being a prohibited person and possessing a wooden bow.

The court heard on June 17, 2020 Tuffin began a six month licence suspension due to excess dermit points and breaching a demerit bond.

On July 2, 2020 Tuffin was found in the driver’s seat of a vehicle on the side of the South Gippsland Highway in Foster North.

Tuffin later admitted to police he had driven the vehicle.

A search of the car uncovered a small zip lock bag with 1.29 grams of methylamphetamine.

On September 15, 2020 police raided Tuffin’s home and found a Dunbier trailer boat and motor stolen from Venus Bay on July 17, 2020 and a Nissan Pathfinder wagon stolen from Hastings on August 14, 2020.

Tuffin had 25 bags of cannabis seeds packaged up with 10 seeds in each bag, three containers of cannabis leaves and stalks, and three small bags of magic mushrooms.

Police also found air rifle, rifle stock and a box of shot gun shells.

Tuffin’s lawyer Kali Watson said she has sympathy for him as he lives on a rural property with a firearm.

“There’s a certain flippancy that goes along with that and he doesn’t really grasp the severity on what it means to be a prohibited person and what it would be for him in the future if he was caught in possession with a further firearm,” Ms Watson said.

Ms Watson said that Tuffin was introduced to ice through some negative peers.

“It’s made him integrate with particular people,” she said.

Magistrate Jacinta Studham sentenced Tuffin to five months in prison and fined him $1300.

“I hope you never come back to custody,” Magistrate Studham said.

“You have had the privilege of a stable upbringing with good education.”

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