Former Ivanhoe Grammar boy Henry Griffith jailed for trafficking MDMA, steroid possession
A woman-bashing former Ivanhoe Grammar boy nabbed with a stack of MDMA, cash and a pill press after fronting hospital with a mystery gunshot wound has sensationally denied dealing for money. But the “greedy” Doncaster man wasn’t fooling a judge.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former Ivanhoe grammar boy nabbed with MDMA, cash and a pill press after he presented to a hospital with a mystery gunshot wound has been jailed.
Henry Griffith, 23, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to 12 months’ jail after pleading guilty to trafficking MDMA, steroid possession and dealing with property believed to the proceeds of crime.
Griffith landed on the police radar after lobbing at Moorabbin Hospital with a gunshot wound just after midnight on May 2, 2018.
A security guard let Griffith into the emergency room foyer where he was examined for a wound on his hip.
The guard quizzed Griffith about his wound but the Doncaster man gave little up.
Griffith said he was dropped at the hospital by a “good Samaritan” but denied he had been robbed.
They had only got his phone” he said.
Griffith was rushed to Clayton Hospital where he was interviewed by an Armed Crime Squad detective.
Police fronted at Griffith’s parents’ Frederick St home at Doncaster with a search warrant just before 6am.
Investigators seized more than 600 grams of MDMA, 22 vials of steroids, $29,050, a semiautomatic pill press, empty capsules, zip-lock bags, knuckledusters and handcuffs.
Griffith was arrested and charged on May 4.
Griffith’s barrister submitted his client trafficked MDMA to support his “rampaging” drug habit.
It was also submitted the cash should not be taken into account and the gunshot wound was “irrelevant”.
However, Judge Michael Tinney said the defence submission was “impossible to accept”.
Judge Tinney also said Griffith was “greedy” and his crime was “obviously planned”., in this for profit.
“You have done it out of greed,” Judge Tinney said.
“The cash surely casts some light (on the offending) … you succumbed to the lure of easy money.
“You took a calculated risk and of course you lost … (you were) in this for profit”.
The defence also submitted the weapons and handcuffs seized were just “toys”.
“Toys, held by a man with a quantity of drugs, who just happened to be shot on the night,” Judge Tinney said.
The court was told Griffith attended Ivanhoe Grammar then Balwyn High.
Griffith, who still lives at his parent’s Doncaster home, then studied at RMIT but has put his studies on hold due to his legal matters.
It was also submitted Griffith’s background and upbringing should be taken into account.
“(You’re) a good deal luckier than those who have sat in that dock,” Judge Tinney said
“You really can’t blame your background.”
Judge Tinney told Griffith the revelation he experienced a “dysfunctional” upbringing was “probably news to your parents”.
The defence submitted Griffith had the support of his girlfriend but Judge Tinney said the “relationship was not as solid as it appeared on paper” after it was revealed the drug dealer assaulted her in September last year.
Griffith was also handed a two-year community correction order.
MORE NEWS
BOXER NEPHEW OF SLAIN CRIME BOSS ALLEGEDLY BASHED WOMAN
"ACTION MAN": GUNMAN MISTOOK CHEF FOR MAFIA MEMBER