Nicholas Mathew Rovere jailed for possessing, supplying drugs

A Gold Coast concreter’s risky cocaine business has been exposed in a Sunshine Coast court after he made thousands off selling poor quality drugs to help fuel his own addiction.

Nicholas Mathew Rovere, 26, was supported by his partner in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday, where details of how he sold poor quality cocaine to fund a meth addiction were shared. Photo: Social media

A Gold Coast stepdad’s dodgy cocaine dealing business has been exposed in a Sunshine Coast court, with the young man making thousands of dollars to help fund a meth habit.

Varsity Lakes man Nicholas Mathew Rovere, 26, was supported by his partner in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday, where details of how he sold poor quality cocaine were shared.

The court was told Rovere had sold various amounts of cocaine five times between June 2021 and January 2022, the biggest amount being one ounce for $8000.

He had offered to sell it to other people on four other occasions, the court was told.

Crown prosecutor Joana Dias told the court Rovere was brought undone when police searched his home on February 8, 2022, and seized his phone.

Ms Dias said they found encrypted app Signal as well as the Facebook messenger app, where they uncovered messages about Rovere selling cocaine to customers.

Police also found oxycodone tablets as well as methamphetamine and a set of scales, Ms Dias said.

Defence barrister Nicholas McGhee told the court his client was selling the cocaine to fund a meth addiction, which had spiralled out of control after his grandfather’s death in late 2022.

The court was told Rovere’s “customers” had complained about the poor quality of the drugs.

“That’s a good way to end up seriously injured in this kind of industry,” Judge Glen Cash said.

Mr McGee said Rovere was raised by his grandparents, and his drug use started with marijuana at 13 after his grandmother died. He started using meth in his early 20s, the court was told.

Rovere now worked as a concreter, Mr McGee said, and cared for his sick mother when he wasn’t working.

He has been clean from drugs for four months and had completed a drug rehab course.

Rovere pleaded guilty to possessing drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime and nine charges of supplying drugs.

He was sentenced to 18 months behind bars, to be released on parole after six.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Nicholas Mathew Rovere jailed for possessing, supplying drugs