Luke Robert Isaiah Bartley faces Toowoomba District Court for trafficking cannabis to 42 people over 10 month period

Despite dealing street level quantities of cannabis to more than 40 people over a 10 month period, and being busted with more than a kilo of the drug, a 21-year-old tried to claim it was for personal use. See what the court did with him.

A 21-year-old man who trafficked cannabis on the streets of Toowoomba for more than 10 months has been spared actual jail time after seemingly turning his life around.

Luke Robert Isaiah Bartley was 19 and 20 when he trafficked mainly cannabis at street level to a customer base of 42 between August 2020 and June 2021, Toowoomba District Court was told on Wednesday.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court Bartley had advertised his product and even referred to the drug as “Bartley’s Bud” which he sold in amounts from 2g to an ounce (28.3g) though he had offered at one time to supply a half pound (226g).

Ms Friedewald said a police search of Bartley’s home in June 21 had found 47 cannabis plants growing under hydroponic system which, with roots off, weighed 318g plus another 907g of leaf, as well as some steroids and $1700 cash.

An analysis of his mobile phone which was seized by police showed the extent of Bartley’s dealing which included small amounts of cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy), she said.

Toowoomba Courthouse in Hume St

Ms Friedewald said Bartley told police the cannabis had been for his own personal use but that wasn’t accepted by the Crown.

Bartley pleaded guilty to a total 11 offences including trafficking, five counts of supplying a dangerous, producing a dangerous drug and possessing cannabis above the 500g schedule.

His lawyer Ali Rana told the court his client had been exposed to drug use in Year 10 at school and was eventually prescribed medical cannabis for a back injury but he couldn’t afford to buy it so had embarked on selling the drug to fund his own use.

His client had also experimented with cocaine and LSD at the time but he had since been receiving counselling, had employment which he enjoyed and since his arrest more than a year ago Bartley had not reoffended while on bail, he said.

Judge Bernard Porter said the offending was very serious.

“Sadly, it was a business that was always going to end badly,” he told Bartley.

Acknowledging the steps he had since taken to rehabilitate and that he had no previous criminal history, Judge Porter sentenced Bartley to a total 30 months in jail but ordered the whole term be suspended forthwith to hang over his head for three years.

Bartley was also placed on three years probation.