James William House gets another chance after breaching suspended sentence bond for drug trafficking

The drug-dealing son of one of Adelaide’s wealthiest families has been given another chance – and a stern talking to – for thinking he was too good for community service.

A Merc-driving drug dealer has been given a second chance after a judge slammed him for thinking someone of his status might be too good for community work.

Former Prince Alfred College student and prominent construction family scion James William House, 33, found himself back in court again after he couldn’t kick his drug habit.

House was sentenced in 2023 to two years and six months jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months, suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond.

But House was back in Adelaide’s District Court last week where he admitted to breaching his bond by returning multiple positive drug tests.

He had also only completed six-and-a-half out of 140 hours of ordered community service work.

James House avoided jail for drug trafficking in 2023. Photo: Facebook

He admitted to breaching the suspended sentence bond by returning positive drug tests. Photo: Facebook

Various documents suggested an injury to House’s leg made it impossible for him to complete the community work, which was not accepted by Judge Emily Telfer.

“Across the same period, however, you have managed to complete a course in business management, have acquired a cafe and have run your own cafe,” she said.

“I received an explanation from the special needs program as to exactly what work you would be required to do and to my mind it is no different to what you would be doing running a cafe or doing a business course.”

James House was ordered to complete the remaining community service hours or he would end up in jail. Photo: Facebook

During sentencing for the drug trafficking, the court heard House was seen driving his Mercedes Benz before stopping outside the house police were watching in May 2020.

Police searched House’s car and found 27.6g of mixed methamphetamine, worth up to $15,000, in the passenger side footwell.

The court heard House was initially a cocaine user but switched to using methamphetamine after the Covid pandemic made it difficult to obtain cocaine.

Judge Telfer said House grew up with great financial advantage due to his father’s estate and would supply drugs to “buy friends and show off”.

The Advertiser understands House’s wider family are well-known Adelaide identities in the construction industry.

His father, Henry Christopher House, known as Chris, died in July 2002, aged 44, after a “sudden illness”.

Chris House, formerly of Springfield, in Adelaide’s southeastern foothills, was director of a well-known building company with his twin brother before his death, according to business records filed with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.

Last week, Judge Telfer said while the breaches weren’t trivial she accepted House had started to acknowledge, albeit late, what he needed in terms of recovery from drug addiction.

She allowed House to enter in a further 12 month suspended sentence bond, with a condition he complete the remaining 133.5 hours of community service.

“Mr House, I want to be as plain as I can with you, you might not think that doing community work is appropriate for you,” Judge Telfer said.

“You might think it is for other people and not for someone of your status.

“You will do the community service work or you will end up in prison.”

Originally published as James William House gets another chance after breaching suspended sentence bond for drug trafficking