Drug dealer with 24 convictions told he is 'wasting his life' by judge

A father of four with two decades of drug convictions on his record has defied rehabilitation attempts and been caught yet again.

Nathan James Storey, 27, appeared in Rockhampton District Court on June 13, 2022. Picture: Facebook

A judge has told a recidivist offender, who had previously been jailed for supplying drugs, that he is “wasting his life”.

Nathan James Storey, 30, had 24 prior drug-related convictions, including a District Court sentence in June 2022 for 15 counts of supplying drugs, when he was busted supplying methamphetamines in a shopping centre carpark in the middle of the day.

Storey served six months of an 18-month prison term when he was sentenced in June 2022, Rockhampton District Court heard this week.

Crown prosecutor Cassandra Nitz said Storey had been on probation when he carried out those 15 supplies and this time, he breached a suspended sentence for entering a premises on Alma Street and removing copper cabling before being disturbed by security possessing bolt cutters.

He was sentenced on April 29, 2024, to a two-month suspended prison term and probation for that, the court heard.

Ms Nitz said Storey was busted by police on June 14, 2024, in the Allenstown Plaza carpark possessing 0.083 grams of methamphetamine.

She said he and his passenger had actively tried to stay out of the eyesight of police who had been alerted to suspicious activity in the carpark.

Ms Nitz said Storey’s passenger possessed 2.27 grams of meth and information on Storey’s phone revealed he had supplied his passenger with meth in lieu of $250 cash and a set of headphones.

He had also indicated in messages that he was prepared to supply higher quantities of the illicit substance for more money and had a $50 note in his wallet at Allenstown.

Defence barrister Maree Willey said Storey’s parents separated when he was young and he started using drugs around the time of his stepmother’s death and they were very close.

She said Storey, a father of four, was supported in court by his mother and he had started an opioid dependency treatment program while in custody with hopes to continue it when released.

Ms Willey said he had previously worked for Bell Equipment and was hopeful of returning to work when released from prison.

Judge Jeff Clarke said it was obvious Storey had struggled with drug dependence for many years.

“It’s a matter for you but you are wasting your life,” he said.

Storey pleaded guilty to one count each of drug supply, possessing drugs and possessing a thing used in the supply of drugs.

He was sentenced to 18 months prison with the suspended sentence activated and to be served concurrently.

Judge Clarke declared 168 days presentence custody as time already served and ordered immediate release on parole.

Originally published as Drug dealer with 24 convictions told he is 'wasting his life' by judge