Terry Sean Barry, 57, sentenced for making meth in the bathroom of his public housing home in Alice Springs

A Supreme Court Judge has ordered a former ‘high functioning’ heroin addict to stay clean for three years after his release, set to take place in nine months. Find out why.

Generic Imagery of Supreme Court, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A former “high functioning” heroin addict and public housing resident who turned to meth – which he made in his bathroom – has been ordered to stay clean for three years after his release from prison, set to be nine months from now.

On November 12, 57-year-old Terry Sean Barry, originally from Glenelg, South Australia, was sentenced in the Darwin Supreme Court by Justice Judith Kelly to three years and six months in prison.

However, Justice Kelly suspended Barry’s sentence after he’s served nine months – with a caveat he has to stay clean for three years afterwards.

Northern Territory Supreme Court Justice Judith Kelly

The court heard how Barry, a public housing resident in Alice Springs, was selling methamphetamine he made in the bathroom of his one-bedroom unit.

Alice Springs police searched Barry’s unit three times over four months, each time uncovering “precursors” used to make methamphetamine, Justice Kelly said in her sentencing remarks.

The first time police searched Barry’s unit was after a man died inside on April 27, the court heard.

Barry is not accused of any wrongdoing in relation to the death, and was not charged.

During the second search on May 6, police again uncovered evidence of methamphetamine manufacture, the court heard.

The court heard during the third search, held on July 27, in addition to more evidence of methamphetamine manufacture police also seized Barry’s phone.

The phone had messages “indicating supply of illicit substances to a number of different people”, Justice Kelly said in her sentencing remarks.

Methamphetamine.

In total, Barry pleaded guilty to seven charges over two indictments including three counts of intentionally manufacturing less than a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, two counts of intentionally possessing equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a precursor used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Justice Kelly said Barry was a “high functioning heroin addict” who was working on a full-time basis in the construction industry.

Barry successfully beat his addiction through a methadone program when he was aged 37, however, afterwards developed an addiction to methamphetamine, Justice Kelly said.

Justice Kelly reduced Barry’s sentence by 20 per cent in light of his guilty plea, and ordered him to attend the Venndale Residential Rehabilitation program upon the completion of his suspended sentence.

Justice Kelly also ordered he stay in the NT, submit to drug testing, and remain under the supervision of a probation and parole officer.

Barry’s term of imprisonment was backdated to begin on July 9 and his suspended sentence will end in March 2025.

Originally published as Terry Sean Barry, 57, sentenced for making meth in the bathroom of his public housing home in Alice Springs