Using meth for pain relief led to addiction to trafficking to jail

What started as pain relief ended in a Toowoomba man being jailed for trafficking meth.

A Toowoomba man who trafficked meth is serving his first stint in jail.

Using meth for pain relief turned to addiction and ultimately to trafficking which put a 52-year-old Toowoomba man in jail for the first time.

Warren Brian Slater had been caught dealing drugs over a seven week period from December 7, 2018, by police monitoring the phones of other drug dealers, Toowoomba Supreme Court heard.

He had just seven customers, but two of those customers were onselling the meth, Crown prosecutor Ellen Fletcher told the court.

Slater had sold meth in 8-ball (3.5g) lots for between $650 and $850 and on one particular day he had sold six 8-balls for between $3900 and $5100, Ms Fletcher said.

There was evidence that Slater was concerned for what he was doing and was thinking of stopping, she said.

Slater pleaded guilty to trafficking and possessing meth.

His barrister David Jones said his client had done his best to hide his offending from his family and that the case had been delayed because Slater had wanted to walk his daughter down the aisle.

Justice Martin Burns said if he gave Slater an immediate parole eligibility date it would not be reached until next February which was more time than he should serve.

Instead, Justice Burns sentenced Slater to four years in jail but ordered the term be suspended for four years after he has served six months and then to be on probation for three years.