Peter Albert Goldsmith pleads guilty to trafficking drugs in Sunshine Coast court

A former concreter has revealed he started selling drugs to more than 10 people for several months to fuel his own addiction following a car crash.

Peter Albert Goldsmith after a previous appearance in Caloundra Magistrates Court on August 30, 2023.

A middle-aged man has been sent to jail after he was sentenced in a Sunshine Coast court for selling drugs as part of a business to fuel his own addiction.

Peter Albert Goldsmith appeared in Maroochydore District Court on December 2 with one supporter in the public gallery.

The soon-to-be 60-year-old pleaded guilty to 13 counts of supplying drugs and one of trafficking drugs.

Crown prosecutor Lily Brisick told the court Goldsmith had been pulled over by police who found 1.1kg of cannabis in bags inside his car, which he was previously sentenced for and fined $1500.

The stop led to police investigating Goldsmith’s phone, which uncovered his dealings.

Ms Brisick said for about 12 months he supplied drugs 12 times, with the largest quantity supplied being 9g.

The trafficking charge related to a period between October 2022 and March 2023 that entailed Goldsmith selling cannabis at a “street level”.

The court was told he had offered to sell 49 times and made a transaction with a customer every few days, usually in quantities between 1g and an ounce, or 28g.

His last supply occurred in May 2023, just one week before he was arrested.

Ms Brisick said his trafficking related to a customer base of about 12 people but had approached two people out of the blue to sell them the drug.

The court was told he trafficked cannabis to fund his own addiction but also made a profit of about $4000.

Defence barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown said his client had a drug issue and had used cannabis to self-medicate for cirrhosis which he likely had from drinking.

The court was told Goldsmith has three adult children and was working as a concreter since he left school at 15 until he went on a disability pension in 2020.

The pension was not enough to fund his drug habit, which led Goldsmith to ultimately running a business selling cannabis.

Mr Ygoa-McKeown said Goldsmith was in a car accident in 2007, and the lasting pain became “unbearable”, forcing him to stop work in 2020.

Judge Glen Cash noted during his sentencing Goldsmith has undiagnosed psychological trauma after a family member died from a lightning strike 11 years ago.

Judge Cash sentenced him to two and a half years’ imprisonment with his parole release date set to June 2, 2025.

Originally published as Peter Albert Goldsmith pleads guilty to trafficking drugs in Sunshine Coast court