Harry Manning pleads guilty to dealing MDMA as more serious charges dropped

A court has heard how a dad’s lotto jackpot and mum’s tragic diagnosis contributed to their twin sons running a small drug empire from their suburban Palmerston home.

Harry Manning, 22, has pleaded guilty to possessing and supplying trafficable quantities of MDMA. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

One of a set of twins charged over a major drug dealing operation being run out of their suburban Palmerston home has been released from prison after more than seven months on remand.

Harry Manning, 22, faced the Darwin Local Court earlier this month where he pleaded guilty to possessing and supplying trafficable quantities of MDMA.

Those charges were downgraded from commercial quantities, and a number of other drug charges initially pinned to Harry Manning were dropped.

The court heard Harry’s offending was “much less serious” than that of his twin, Thomas Manning, who this week pleaded guilty to dealing commercial quantities of MDMA, ketamine and LSD.

Twins Harry and Thomas Manning were charged after police found large quantities of drugs at their Driver home. Picture: PFES

Defence lawyer Josh Bach told the court how a mix of family tragedy and incredible luck helped set the pair on a path to their crimes.

“When he was 19 his mother was diagnosed with dementia, and he said that was a very difficult matter for his family and she at times can’t remember who he and his brother are,” Mr Bach said.

“Also quite unusually also while this was happening his father won the lottery, and I understand that he won a very large sum of money.”

With his winnings Manning’s dad bought a Driver home for the twins, another home for their older brother, and a Gold Coast home for himself and his partner.

“Harry and his brother moved into their house and he says while they were there his brother became quite savvy at using the dark web,” Mr Bach said.

“Harry Manning tells me he didn’t know how to use the dark web and was not really across what was happening with his brother, but he was buying MDMA from his brother at cost price, and then would use some himself and also on-sell to friends.

The court heard Harry Manning never applied for bail, preferring to serve his time as “he knew he did the wrong thing”.

“He feels embarrassed and ashamed,” Mr Bach said.

“The period in custody has not been easy for Mr Manning … it’s just been him and his brother looking after each other inside the prison, it’s also known the conditions inside Holtze are very bad at the moment.”

Judge Thomasin Opie sentenced Harry Manning to six months behind bars – more than a month less than he had already served on remand.

“The offending of Harry was of a much less serious nature than that of his twin brother,” Ms Opie said.

“He has experienced overcrowding at Darwin Correctional Centre and has been unable to access many of the programs that could have assisted him.

“He hopes to put this matter behind him upon his release, so that he can move to the Gold Coast and start afresh.”

Ms Opie ordered for $3410 in Harry Manning’s possession to be forfeited.

Thomas Manning remains on remand and will return to court next month for submissions on sentencing.