Warren Shea sentenced at the County Court for his involvement in one of the biggest meth labs in the state’s history

A drug dealer once accused over the killing of a self-proclaimed “vampire gigolo” has dodged jail over one of Victoria’s biggest ever meth lab busts.

Alleged Gangland hitman Warren Shea free again after ice bust.

A drug dealer once accused over the killing of a self-proclaimed “vampire gigolo” Shane Chartres-Abbott has dodged jail over one of the state’s biggest-ever meth labs.

Warren Shea, 53, was sentenced to a good behaviour bond for four years at the County Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing substance and equipment for manufacturing methamphetamine and attempting to possess a controlled drug

Shea was nabbed alongside Peter Siaoloa and Joshua Seal in September 2020 during a sweeping series of raids after investigators busted the massive drug lab at a rural property on Bolinda-Darraweit Rd, Darraweit Guim — 70km north of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges.

In August 2020, police intercepted 100kg of meth contained in four 250L drums which arrived from Hong Kong into Sydney and substituted them with a non-chemically reactive substance.

Then, in September 2020, police went undercover, pretending to be delivery drivers, and delivered the drums to a house in Sunshine West.

Seal then transported the drums to a property in the Macedon Ranges, where the then 48-year-old Shea was waiting at the entrance.

The police raided the property and Shea was arrested.

Inside the shed, police found a large amount of equipment associated with a clandestine drug lab.

Co-accused Seal was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years’ and six months’ imprisonment in July last year and Siaoloa was jailed for a minimum of six years’ imprisonment for their roles in the offending.

On Friday, the court heard Shea was not a “major player” and there was no evidence that he played a role in managing the meth operation.

Judge Frank Gucciardo said drugs of dependence impacted the community greatly and Shea’s was aware of what the meth lab was “meant to do”.

“This conduct is unacceptable, criminal in nature and deserving of punishment,” he said.

“You knew there were drugs in the drum.”

Judge Gucciardo said Shea’s “record” was “not good” but he was trying to change his life around.

“You have said you are a man who all his life has been meshed with criminality … (you have shown) a remarkable transformation and this new course in your life should be encouraged,” he said.

The court heard that MC Labour employed Shea after he was fired from his job at the City Tunnel project following the news publication about the charges.

While putting Shea on a good behaviour bond for four years with a $1000 security, Judge Gucciardo warned the 53-year-old his conduct would be under court scrutiny.

“Write the date on your hand in permanent ink — if you break this order, you will come in front of me again,” he said.

“At your age, you should not be coming in front of me, but if you do, I will welcome you when you arrive, and I am making myself very clear.”

Shea was also sentenced to 18 months in prison on charge one and six months on charge two with conviction, which were reckoned served during his 236-day pre-detention.

Shea was cleared by a jury of murdering Chartres-Abbott in 2014 — one of the most high-profile homicides in recent decades.

His close friend Mark Perry was also acquitted.

It had been alleged Shea had organised the murder, which was carried out by a paid hit team.
It was alleged the motive was Chartres-Abbott viciously assaulting a girlfriend of Perry.

Chartres-Abbott was a self-proclaimed vampire who worked as a male prostitute.

Chartres-Abbott was shot at the front of his house on June 4, 2003, as he left for a court appearance over the assault of Perry’s girlfriend.