Plumber Jackson Davis fronts Moorabbin Court over multiple drug trafficking charges
A Melbourne drug dealer busted at a Swan Hill music festival with a stack of drugs had his mum come to his defence in court saying he no longer went clubbing and ran a “tight ship”.
South East
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The mother of a drug dealer busted by police at a music festival has told a Melbourne court she was “horrified” at her son’s offending.
Jackson Davis, 23, pleaded guilty to multiple charges of trafficking cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, dimethylamphetamines, possessing LSD, cannabis and Xanax, possessing a controlled weapon and possessing proceeds of crime.
In March, police patrolling a music festival near Swan Hill saw Davis acting suspiciously, before he spotted them and quickly ducked into a port-a-loo.
When he emerged, officers searched Davis and the toilet, turning up a large stockpile of drugs, including 14.1g of ketamine, 19 Xanax tablets, 11 LSD tablets, 17.7g of cocaine, 5g of dimethylamphetamines, 118 ecstasy tablets, a 3g bag of ‘green vegetable matter’, an orange switchblade knife and $1775 in cash.
The court heard police also seized Davis’ car and phone, where they found further evidence of drug trafficking in his text message conversations.
In an interview with police, the court heard Davis had said he was “just having fun”.
In court on Tuesday, Davis was accompanied by his mother, Gayle, who said she was “horrified” and “shocked” when she found out about her son’s offending.
“It came as a huge shock to me, you send your child off to a music festival thinking they’ll be safe,” she said.
“The implications on what he’s done not only to himself but potentially to other people are not lost on me.”
“I’m horrified. Being here is a huge embarrassment for me and our family.”
Ms Davis said since her son’s offending, she had run an extremely tight ship at home.
“I’ve encouraged him to focus 100 per cent on his work and he’s done that,” she said.
“He works six and a half days a week, he doesn’t go night clubbing any more, he has a few dinners with friends but not much else.”
Davis told the court the entire process had been an eye-opening experience for him.
“I was stuck in a never-ending cycle, this is the wakeup call I needed,” he said.
“I feel healthier, my state of mind is clearer, but I know this might affect the rest of my life.
“It’s not what I want for myself or my mum.”
The court heard Davis began using drugs in 2016, shortly after his grandfather died.
Magistrate Felicity Broughton said drug dealing and trafficking was a “scourge to the community”.
“The damage that this does is shocking,” she said.
“There is a high degree of planning, he’s at a music festival with a lot of young people, ready to sell a whole suite of drugs to others.”
However, Ms Broughton said his early plea of guilty and family support fell in his favour.
“It’s clear he’s been significantly chastened by the stupidity of these actions,” she said.
“You’ve pleaded guilty and accepted the responsibility for your behaviour very rapidly.
“Young people make mistakes, you’re 23 and you’ve never been before the courts.
“You have been otherwise of good character, you’ve got a very supportive family, you’re well respected and liked by the people around you.”
“I’m very positive looking at your prospects of rehabilitation.”
Ms Broughton said the need for general deterrence was high, in order to deter other potential drug traffickers.
Ms Broughton ordered Davis to complete an 18-month community corrections order without conviction, with 200 hours of unpaid community work, including 80 hours of classes related to substance and alcohol abuse.
Ms Broughton said she would have imprisoned him had he not pleaded guilty.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
