Echuca father Mark Rhys Holderhead bail refused on meth trafficking charges

An Echuca dad was allegedly busted in a drug raid with $50k worth of meth and a loaded long arm hidden in his family home.

Police allegedly busted Echuca man Mark Holderhead with $50,000 worth of meth.

An Echuca dad has allegedly been caught with a loaded long arm and a commercial quantity of meth in his family home, a court has heard.

Father of two Mark Rhys Holderhead, 42, had his bail application shot down at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Monday after he was allegedly busted with 104g of meth that according to police has a street value of about $50,000.

Police allegedly uncovered the hoard of drugs, cash, ammunition and a firearm at his High St, Echuca family home during a raid on September 4.

Mark Holderhead claimed he was selling meth out of his family home to support his addiction.

Police allegedly found several bags of a “white crystal substance” believed to be methamphetamine totalling about 104g strewn across the floor of his bedroom, about $12,000 in cash hidden in an air vent, drug scales and a “tick book” allegedly recording drug trade transactions.

A rifle, which police believe was stolen, was allegedly found with a round in the chamber and the action open — ready to shoot.

“Everywhere we looked and turned there were bags of white crystal substance,” police alleged in court.

Mr Holderhead’s Legal Aid lawyer Robert Morgan argued for the accused drug dealer to be released on bail to enter residential rehabilitation facility, The Cottage, in Shepparton, with Mr Holderhead’s dad fronting $7000 to get the alleged drug dealer a spot.

The court heard that Mr Holderhead’s alleged drug dealing came from a desire to fuel his own methamphetamine addiction and he was only selling drugs to afford his own, with Mr Morgan arguing Mr Holderhead’s addiction could be treated at The Cottage.

Mark Holderhead has been charged with commercial meth trafficking.

Police opposed Mr Holderhead’s bail bid, alleging he was an unacceptable risk of reoffending, which could not be addressed by residential rehab.

Police argued The Cottage had an “open gate” policy, and there was nothing to stop Mr Holderhead sneaking out at night between bed checks and continuing his alleged drug dealing undetected.

Mr Morgan argued that Mr Holderhead had no relevant criminal history and he should be given a chance.

Mr Morgan raised issues with the prosecution’s case against Mr Holderhead, arguing there wasn’t enough evidence to support allegations of commercial trafficking.

Mr Morgan said initial spot testing of two out of 16 of the bags containing what was believed to be methamphetamine was not “pure ice”.

Police allege the methamphetamine Mr Holderhead was busted with had a street value of about $50,000.

If the drug is cut, the threshold for commercial trafficking then becomes 250g, the court heard, and Mr Morgan indicated that the defence would fight to have the commercial charge downgraded.

However, police argued the amount of meth allegedly seized was still 33 times the trafficable quantity, and was the equivalent of about 1000 doses of the drug.

Police said Mr Holderhead was “destroying lives” and had shown no remorse or insight into the “scourge on society” he was facilitating — allegedly laughing during a police interview.

Magistrate Russell Kelly refused Mr Holderhead’s bail, finding him to be an unacceptable risk to the community.

“He cannot be trusted given the serious nature of this offending.”

Mr Holderhead will remain in custody ahead of his next court date in December.