Thomas Walton was supported by his parents, brother, girlfriend and four friends as he fronted Wollongong District Court on Wednesday for sentencing.

The 31-year-old was ensnared in a wide-reaching police surveillance operation, part of Strike Force Yuppara, between May and August 2019. The sting culminated in seven simultaneous raids across the Illawarra and netted $250,000 worth of drugs, cash and weapons.

Walton originally faced nine charges. After plea negotiations he pleaded guilty to two charges: supplying a commercial quantity (527.75g) of cocaine and knowingly take part in the supply of MDMA.

The court heard it had been his job to receive cocaine from his upline supplier, David Ogenovski, package the drugs and sell them to others.

In court on Wednesday, Judge Andrew Haesler considered a written address by Walton, in which he described his behaviour as reckless and said with hindsight it was inevitable he would be arrested an jailed.

"He is greatly embarrassed and shamed and disappointed in both himself and for bringing shame on his family and friends and partner," Judge Haesler said.

"He said he'd been using his time in custody to prove to the court and prove to corrective services but more importantly to prove to his family that on release he will resume his place as a law-abiding member of the community, and work hard to assist others. He purports to be a changed man.

"His parents speak of man who is different to the boy they knew, [a man] who has grown up in custody."

The judge considered a large number of references from family and friends, including one who suggested Walton had already paid his debt to society.

"In a sense I agree, but I cannot accept his friend's remark that he should be released today," Judge Haesler said.

Some debate centred on the extent of Walton's drug habit at the time of his offending, and whether he had financially profited from the drug ring.

Walton's lawer told the court intercepted telephone conversations showed his client was acting while in the grip of addiction.

"It was quite clear from those conversations that Mr Walton had developed a significant taste for the product he was supposed to be marketing," Mr Clark said. "Any money that was being made looked to me like it was being funnelled back into his own habit. Even if you consider a 'mates' rates' discount, he still managed to chalk up a debt of $14,000, which points to a significant habit".

But Crown prosecutor Ashley Bird said there was no evidence Walton had been drug-dependent, and successfully argued addiction couldn't be considered a mitigating factor in sentencing.

The court Walton had maintained his qualification as a heavy diesel mechanic while in jail and would resume work as soon as he was released.

"He's not one of those people who's released and is going to be walking down to Centrelink to see what's on offer," Mr Clark said.

The judge said: "I understand he's eminently employable, which is part of the tragedy of this matter".

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The judge found Walton had shown excellent progress towards rehabilitation while in custody.

He found Walten had been used by Ogenovski "to some extent" to store drugs at his home.

"But I have to return to the seriousness of what was done, in particular the commercial supply," he said.

"He embraced the role of drug dealer as he embraced the drug cocaine."

Walton was sentenced to four years, three months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years, 10 months.

With time already served, he becomes eligible for parole on June 15, 2022.

The ring's twin kingpins, Joel and Flinn Westman, await sentencing in the district court next week.

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