Former Bendigo Pioneers player Jessy Brown claims ex-girlfriend drew him into meth trafficking

A Mildura man and former Bendigo Pioneers footballer caught with methamphetamine claims he was pushed into drug dealing by his ex who had a $15,000 drug debt.

Jessy Brown lwas busted with nearly ten times the traffickable amount of meth. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

A former Bendigo Pioneers footy player claims an ex-girlfriend drew him into meth dealing to help settle her $15,000 drug debt, a court has heard.

Merbein man Jessy Brown, 20, fronted Koori Court in Mildura to plead guilty to charges including trafficking methamphetamine.

The court heard Brown was caught with almost 10 times the trafficable amount of methamphetamine, along with incriminating communications on his mobile phone.

Brown had multiple family members supporting him in court including two of grandparents, sister and mum.

Brown’s lawyer Rebecca Boreham told the court he was roped into selling the drug by an ex who had amassed almost $15,000 of drug debt.

The court heard Brown claimed he was roped into dealing the drug by his then girlfriend who allegedly had a $15K drug debt. Picture :Generic

Ms Boreham said she believed Brown’s ex was the “boss in the relationship” and said she had seen text messages to that effect, and also highlighted the fact her client had spent time in custody before being granted bail while the woman had not.

“A nearly 30-year-old white woman who’s house had just been searched . had not been arrested while Jessy sat in the cells,” Ms Boreham said.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Lauren Abson strongly refuted the claims the girlfriend had been the mastermind behind the offending and said messages she had seen had indicated no power dynamics between the two and gave a potential reason why the girlfriend had not been arrested.

Magistrate Megan Aumair told Brown it was time to walk the talk as she delayed sentencing until the end of July.

“While she is older … she had no prior convictions, no prior offences,” Constable Abson said.

During the Koori Court sitting, Elders encouraged Brown to reconnect with his culture and return to country.

“I want to try and do better, reconnect with my culture and just do better for myself. Drugs have made my life go backwards,” Brown told the court.

Magistrate Megan Aumair indicated Brown would receive an opportunity for a second chance.

“You’re saying the right things, Jessy, but we need you to walk the talk now,” Ms Aumair said.

“If you don’t do something about (the meth addiction) now, it is going to stuff up a large portion of your 20s.”

Brown will return to court on July 30 to be sentenced.