Scott Wardale, who was described by Judge Michael King as being in a “senior position in the chain” was given a three-year jail term with a two-year non-parole period, backdated to his arrest in December last year.

The sentence came on the same day as sentencing submissions were heard in two separate cases involving members of an alleged amphetamine ring.

The court heard yesterday that Wardale had been involved in the supply of 7.75kg of cannabis between October 4 and December 5 last year.

Judge King read out conversations alleged to have taken place between Wardale and a co-accused.

Wardale had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge of supplying a prohibited substance, however, changed his plea when the matter was due to go to trial earlier this year.

“There appears to be no remorse or contrition to his actions and the plea of guilty appears to be a response to a very strong Crown case,” Judge King said.

Wardale will be eligible for parole on December 3, 2010 but will have to undergo drug and alcohol programs and random urinalysis upon release.

Meanwhile, two members of an alleged amphetamine ring will learn their fate on Tuesday.

Sentencing submissions were put to Acting Judge Sir Robert Woods on behalf of Belinda Smith and Andrew Colin Hornby yesterday.

Both have pleaded guilty to charges of supplying prohibited drugs.

Belinda Smith, 29, told the court she was remorseful and would not re-offend.

Her part in the alleged drug ring involved driving a co-accused to Sydney to collect amphetamines from a third party.

The alleged amount involved was 27.8 grams, according to court facts.

Smith pleaded guilty to the charge on October 6 this year and has been continually granted bail.

She had purchased amphetamine from co-accused Megan Finn seven times before driving her to Sydney.

The court heard she recieved a small amount of the drugs for her assistance.

Smith was on a two-year good- behaviour bond at the time of the offence, imposed for using an uninsured, unregistered vehicle and driving without a licence.

She was sentenced in Dubbo Local Court for those matters on September 10 last year.

Smith told the court yesterday that she has not used drugs since February this year.

Hornby appeared in court after Smith yesterday.

The court heard he had battled self-esteem issues over the years and felt “worthless, hopeless and a personal failure”.

He told Judge Woods that he wanted to get his life on track again and repair the damage done by his involvement with his former partner, co-accused Megan Finn.

He said his depression led him to using amphetamines after years of cannabis use.

His defence barrister sought a suspended jail sentence for his client, however, prosecutor Nee Tran-Dinh objected, saying a full-time custodial sentence was a suitable punishment.

Both Smith and Hornby will be sentenced by Judge Woods on Tuesday.