Taylor Stewart sentenced after drugs found in boot of car in Bendigo

A boilermaker who was found passed out at the wheel of his car with drugs in his boot in Bendigo will soon be eligible for release from jail.

A drug dealing tradie who was found passed out behind the wheel of his car nearly a year ago will soon be eligible for release from jail.

Taylor Stewart, 28, faced the County Court by video link from prison on Wednesday, where he was sentenced to 19 months jail and fined $500 on a drug trafficking, drug possession and proceeds of crime charges.

Stewart, a boilermaker, last month pleaded guilty to the charges, and admitted he was arrested after police found him asleep behind the wheel of his car at Long Gully in Bendigo last year.

Generic images, county court

A search of the car, which Stewart had borrowed from a mate, uncovered more than 2kg of liquid fantasy, a small bag of cannabis and more than $6000 in drug money.

Judge Kate Hawkins said Stewart was clearly dealing drugs for profit, but the profits were largely going toward funding his own drug habit.

Judge Hawkins said it was important to send would-be dealers a message that they would be jailed if caught taking part in the drug trade.

Stewart plans to get clean once released from jail and train to get lucrative work in the offshore oil and gas industry, where he will face regular drug and alcohol tests.

Stewart has served 334 days behind bars, and will be eligible for release after 13 months served.

Judge Hawkins also suspended his drivers license for a year, because he was “clearly drug effected” when he was found behind the wheel of the car.