‘Good’ man pleads guilty to testosterone, meth supply charges

AN Alice Springs man has been spared more jail time after being sentenced over serious drug charges including meth and testosterone, the Supreme Court has heard.

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AN Alice Springs man has been spared more jail time after being sentenced over serious drug charges including meth and testosterone, the Supreme Court has heard.

The court heard Shane Harris, 31, has had a longstanding drug problem, especially with methamphetamine.

Harris pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally possessing the trafficable quantity of testosterone, one count of intentionally supplying less than the commercial quantity of methamphetamine, and intentionally possessing a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine.

Detectives from the Southern Drug Investigation Unit arrested Harris in his home on July 3 2019 after a search warrant found methamphetamine, a set of digital scales, and three viles of testosterone steroids.

An original search warrant was executed in May 2019 at his residence in Alice Springs, where they found a number of prohibited substances including methamphetamine and three viles of testosterone, syringes, and a small quantity of cannabis, but attempts to locate Harris in the first instance were unsuccessful.

Harris had faced drug charges in court before, the Supreme Court heard.

Acting Justice Dean Mildren said in references he heard Harris was a “good worker and a good person whose been struggling with an ice addiction for many years”.

He said referees mentioned how much effort Harris has put in “trying to change his life since being realised on bail”.

According to a report Harris had “acknowledged pain (he) had caused others and (his) family”,” Justice Mildren said.

The court heard he was dedicated to addressing the drug misuse issues and had engaged in counselling and meetings with a psychologist.

Justice Mildren said he placed methamphetamine in the “top category of dangerous drugs”.

“I think that overall, you should be given a chance to reintegrate back into society and sending you back to prison at this time would be detrimental.

“The court is well aware that giving up methamphetamine is not easy and that you need a lot of support, which you seem to have.”

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Harris was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, suspended on Tuesday under various conditions.

But, Justice Mildren said if Harris every tested positive to drugs and was dishonest about it or attempted to run away he would send him to prison, and he would be under strict supervision from probation and parole officers.

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