Exhausted Tasmanian dad who stashed ice in his anus avoids time in jail

A dad who started using meth to “keep the house running” has avoided jail for trafficking after he was nabbed with up to $52,000 worth of the drug.

AN EXHAUSTED dad who stashed a bag of methamphetamine in his anus, with police finding a further 11.9 grams in a light fitting attached to the ceiling, has avoided a stint in jail for drug trafficking.

Colebrook man William Mark Hutchinson, 28, said he started taking the drug when his wife fell ill and he became full-time carer for their four children.

But as he became dependent, he started selling amounts of the drug in order to fund his addiction.

In the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Tuesday, Justice Stephen Estcourt said police seized a total 35.16g of ice from Hutchinson during December 2020 and January 2021.

He said based on an analysis of Hutchinson’s mobile phone and his admissions to police, the methamphetamine would have had a street value of between $12,000 to more than $52,000.

Justice Estcourt said the police seized the drugs – along with thousands of dollars in cash and used glass pipes – after intercepting and searching his car three times and executing two drug warrants at his home.

He said Hutchinson retrieved a bag containing 1.7g from his anus.

Police also found a clear snaplock bag with 11.9g of meth in a light cover attached to the ceiling.

Justice Estcourt said Hutchinson, who previously worked as a welder before losing employment in 2020, had no prior convictions for drug-related offending.

He said Hutchinson “was a user of ice and was selling some of the drugs he obtained to fund his addiction”.

“The defendant became exhausted but needed to keep the house running. It was recommended to him to try amphetamine,” Justice Estcourt said.

“Initially the defendant used one point in the morning and a small amount later in the day.

“Unsurprisingly over time he needed to use more of the drug … and became addicted.”

He said it had been submitted Hutchinson was “a street-level vendor” and did not have wide networks of distribution.

Hutchinson, who pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in a controlled substance, plus a number of summary offences, was given a 15-month drug treatment order.

He won’t need to serve any time in jail if he complies with the terms of the order, Justice Estcourt said.

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