Troy William McGinnity sentenced for drug trafficking
A Townsville tiler who started using methamphetamine while his partner was pregnant has seen his life spiral out. He has been sentenced for drug trafficking.
Townsville
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A MAN who started using methamphetamine while his partner was pregnant has seen his life spiral out of control over the last five years.
It was just before the birth of his first child that Troy William McGinnity, 40, broke up with his partner of four years.
The Townsville Supreme Court heard that the pair had become addicted to methamphetamine just before the break up and McGinnity’s addiction ramped up after they separated.
McGinnity came to the attention of police after he was identified as a regular customer of the principal target of a police operation.
The court heard on August 22 last year, police executed a search warrant at McGinnity’s address.
Police found .03g of methamphetamine, 37g of cannabis, digital scales, $625 in cash, a mobile phone and tick sheet.
An analysis of the mobile phone uncovered offers to supply drugs, the court heard.
Crown prosecutor Aaron Dunkerton said the drug supplies occurred between July 10 and August 23 last year.
“The defendant sold to at least 11 people in quantities ranging from points (0.1g) to balls (3.5g),” he said.
“He would liaise with customers over SMS and Facebook messenger and would sell methamphetamine at discounted rates to his favourite customers.”
Mr Dunkerton said the tick sheet revealed McGinnity owed his dealer $2800 and he was owed $1500 by his customers.
McGinnity pleaded guilty to six charges including drug trafficking.
Defence barrister for McGinnity Justin Gregory told Justice David Jackson his client had a solid work history as a tiler and did not intend to make money from supplying drugs.
“The purpose of the supplies were to fund his habit,” he said.
Justice Jackson accepted that McGinnity was addicted to drugs.
“It was a loss making business engaged in to feed your methamphetamine use habit,” he said.
“It was a serious and significant habit and you were drug dependent.”
Having spent 424 days in declarable pre-sentence custody, McGinnity was sentenced to three and a half years’ jail with immediate parole eligibility.
Originally published as Troy William McGinnity sentenced for drug trafficking