Shepparton’s Aaron Heffernan pleads guilty in court to drug charges

A Shepparton man has pleaded guilty to trafficking more than two litres of GHB among charges of theft and handling stolen goods.

A Shepparton man has pleaded guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of GHB.

A Shepparton man was found to be trafficking GHB after a police search of his home revealed bottles of the drug, text messages and tick sheets.

Aaron Heffernan, 35, pleaded guilty in Shepparton County Court on Tuesday to burglary, theft, trafficking commercial quantity of 1,4 Butanediol (GHB) and handling stolen goods.

His matter was also heard in the Koori Court.

Heffernan with co-offender Ross Anderson trespassed on a Shepparton home under construction in December 2023 and were captured on CCTV.

Heffernan stole a bar fridge and dishwasher from the house.

Anderson stole a range of kitchen appliances and supplies and was sentenced for the burglary along with unrelated matters to five-months imprisonment.

A victim impact statement from the homeowner revealed the total cost of items stolen as well as broken locks and windows was $30,000.

The victim said the incident deeply affected their sense of security and trust in the community.

They said it was not just a “violation” of a space where belongings were kept, but of their sanctuary.

Aaron Heffernan fronted Shepparton County Court on theft, burglary and drug trafficking charges.

In January 2024, police executed a search warrant at Heffernan’s home where an assortment of stolen Milwaukie and Makita power tools, an airconditioner, natural gas fireplace and a pressure washer were found.

Police also found seven bottles of GHB and after seizing Heffernan’s phone found text messages with evidence of trafficking from the end of November to January 15.

A box addressed to co-offender Callum Savio, who was present at the time, containing empty plastic bottles of the drug were also found.

His charges were dealt with alongside unrelated matters and received a sentence of 18 months in prison, nine months non-parole.

Defence lawyer Chris Pearson said Heffernan had been a drug addict for many years but had devoted himself to rehabilitation.

“He has worked on himself while in jail to gain a connection to his Aboriginal heritage and told he has worked hard in the hope it provides him with some direction when he is ultimately brought back into the community,” he said.

Heffernan showed the court and Indigenous elders the art he had been creating in custody, including a new coat of arms for Australia and one to represent Indigenous Australians who fought and died in World War I.

Aunty Laurel Robinson said art was a way of healing and encouraged him to continue.

Heffernan will reappear in Shepparton County Court on May 30 to be sentenced.

He has spent 484 days in custody.