Gavin Browne pleads guilty to drug trafficking at the Supreme Court in Brisbane

A seasoned Sunshine Coast plastering business owner’s descent into drugs have been retold in court documents after he was caught dealing narcotics to more than 50 customers.

Gavin Westley Browne was sentenced at the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Picture: NCA Newswire / Dan Peled

A Sunshine Coast plasterer turned drug dealer has suffered a fall from grace after being found dealing narcotics to more than 50 people over almost a year.

Newly published court documents from the Supreme Court in Brisbane this month revealed the extent of Gavin Westley Browne’s drug trafficking operation following a search of his home on September 30, 2022.

Justice Rebecca Treston told the court police uncovered 6.975g of meth along with 9.411g of MDMA powder.

Other drug items and a large amount of cash were also seized.

Browne was caught with a large amount of meth during a raid.

The Supreme Court Justice said detectives obtained an order to search Browne’s phone which uncovered evidence of drug dealing which stretched from January 25, 2022 to September 28, 2022, two days before his arrest.

Justice Treston said the 41-year-old had at least 51 customers and would source his drugs from four separate suppliers while supplying directly at street level.

Text messages revealed Browne would supply on a regular, sometimes daily, occurrence where he sought and responded to customer feedback, spruiked discounts to repeat customers and discussed issues of debt enforcements.

The Supreme Court Justice said it was not an entirely unsophisticated enterprise but accepted it was a street level business.

A sizeable amount of MDMA was also uncovered at the raid.

Browne’s drug dealing career however took place in what Justice Treston declared was a “terribly low point” for the 41-year-old, during a life which was marred by drug addiction.

She said the seasoned plasterer, who at one point ran his own business and employed contractors for many years, fell into drug use following the death of his father.

The court heard the 41-year-old would self medicate with drugs, and, along with having a partner with a cocaine habit, went into a “downward spiral”.

Justice Treston said Browne began to sell drugs to fund his habit and had fleeting attempts at rehabilitation which did not prove successful.

Evidence before the court however swayed the Supreme Court Justice who said he made a “very real and genuine” attempt to rehabilitate himself in 2024 and was remorseful.

Browne pleaded guilty to trafficking in dangerous drugs and two counts of possessing a dangerous drug in excess of two grams.

He was jailed for three years but was granted immediate parole at his sentencing in July this year.

Originally published as Gavin Browne pleads guilty to drug trafficking at the Supreme Court in Brisbane