A Shepparton man who was involved in trafficking drugs to a “wide customer base” on an “almost daily basis” has been sentenced.
Troy Ashley Scott, 50, of Shepparton, has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison and will have to serve four years and three months before becoming eligible for parole.
Scott pleaded guilty in the Shepparton County Court to trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, trafficking butanediol, handling stolen goods and failing to comply with police direction.
Police caught Scott involved in trafficking methamphetamine at least 97 times via several phone calls and messages they intercepted from July 30, 2022, to October 24, 2022.
Scott trafficked a total of 743.5g of methamphetamine to several people in various amounts, with transactions ranging from 0.5g to 84g at a time.
He would buy an ounce of methamphetamine for about $5000 and sell an ounce for about $5500 to $6000.
Scott also trafficked a total of 615ml of butanediol over five transactions.
In sentencing Scott, Judge Robyn Harper said although he was “not living a lavish lifestyle”, he was “clearly in the business of drug trafficking”.
She said Scott’s persistent drug trafficking “contributed to a pervasive social problem” and she wouldn’t tolerate such behaviour.
Judge Harper acknowledged Scott was shown “limited empathy” and was neglected as a child, which left him vulnerable to substance abuse.
She noted after Scott left school, he began living on the streets and couch-surfing when he was 15 years old.
His drug dependency increased from there when he began using methamphetamine daily at 16 years old.
Judge Harper acknowledged there was a “casual connection” between Scott’s upbringing and drug use, which was the main reason for his offending.
Scott had also been diagnosed with a moderate personality disorder, cognitive issues and a severe alcohol disorder.
Judge Harper said Scott had a fair prospect of rehabilitation.