An unemployed cancer survivor who sold heroin and crystal meth to his neighbours at a Warrawong public housing complex has been jailed for at least 3½ years.
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Detectives monitored Elefterios ‘Terry’ Skoumbourdis for five months in 2016, secretly recording him as he carried out dozens of small-scale drug deals, sometimes several in a day, from his humble Housing Commission flat in Illawong Gardens.
Skoumbourdis led a five-man group responsible for keeping clients high. They were Tony Jovanovski, the upline heroin supplier; Darryl Jones, a primary contact for buyers; Mark Jullian, one of Jones’ regulars; and Kevin Stewart, who sourced the crystal meth.
He used the cash profits from his illegal business to become a high roller at Star Casino and buy the services of prostitutes, although court documents say he also exchanged some of the drugs for sexual favours from clients.
Skoumbourdis was arrested in December 16 and has remained behind bars ever since.
A subsequent police investigation revealed he was spending about $30,000 a month at the casino, however in court on Tuesday, Judge Andrew Haesler said it was impossible to gauge how much of that money was from Skoumbourdis’ drug racket.
“What can be said is that type of money could not have been gained from the sales I have before me,” he said.
The court heard Skoumbourdis had a complex range of medical conditions including heart problems, hypertension and reflux disease that would make his time behind bars onerous.
“He’s not a healthy man,” Judge Haesler said.
“He will suffer hardship other prisoners’ won’t suffer and the reality of prison life should not be overlooked.”
I doubt he’s capable of understanding the real impact of his crimes on his immediate community
- Judge Andrew Haesler
However, he also Skoumbourdis needed to be punished for what he’d done.
“He told a psychologist it was an error of judgement; no, it was a series of serious criminal acts,” Judge Haesler said.
“He says he truly regrets and is remorseful for what he did. I’m prepared to accept he has regrets, but I doubt he’s capable of understanding the real impact of his crimes on his immediate community.”
With time served, Skoumbourdis will become eligible for release on parole in June 2020.
His total sentence expires in 2022.
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