A Dubbo man who had stolen goods, prohibited weapons and drugs in his possession has been convicted and ordered to serve a community correction order.
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Michael James Slade, 48, was found with a 45L Engel fridge, and assorted power tools, as well as 3.9 grams of methylamphetamine, commonly known as ice.
He faced Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to goods suspected of being stolen on premises, multiple counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, and supplying a less than indictable quantity of drugs.
The Crown withdrew charges of supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drug and possessing or using a military style weapon without a permit.
On Thursday magistrate Gary Wilson convicted Slade and sentenced him to serve an 18-month community correction order.
Slade must also abstain from drugs as a condition of the order and be under the supervision of Community Corrections.
In making submissions on sentence, Slade’s solicitor said a community corrections order was appropriate, and that the Crown had a similar position.
The representative for the Crown said he would not be heard against an 18-month community correction order.
However he pressed abstinence from drugs be imposed as a condition of the order.
The court heard Slade had completed Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT), a program for adult defenders with substance abuse problems to work, on a voluntary basis, towards rehabilitation as part of the bail process.
All I can say is you were teetering right at the edge of a custodial sentence.
- Magistrate Gary Wilson
His client’s usage had decreased significantly, the solicitor said.
When the magistrate said to Slade abstaining from drugs would be better than jail, Slade agreed.
“All I can say is you were teetering right at the edge of a custodial sentence,” Mr Wilson said.
He said if Slade complied with the order, he would not have anything to worry about, but if he didn’t it could be revoked.
Slade was also put on an 18-month community correction order for unrelated charges of possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing a prohibited drug and manufacturing a prohibited weapon with a permit.
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