Two people involved in a methampethamine dealing syndicate in the Lake Illawarra area have avoided jail time because of their efforts towards rehabilitation.
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Casey Dekker and Michael Antony Kominkovski appeared for sentencing in the Wollongong District Court on Thursday, having each pleaded guilty to supplying the illicit drug.
In May 2018, Kominkovski was involved in a conversation with the alleged upline supplier in the syndicate, who cannot be named, about the supply of meth and how it operated.
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That same month, May 2018, it appeared a co-accused person recruited Dekker, telling the supplier in a text message that she was "keen".
There were nine occasions between June 2018 and February 2019 that Dekker received methamphetamine for the purposes of supply, and six occasions between April and October 2018 that Kominkovski received the drug for supply.
In total, Dekker received 180 grams of meth, while Kominkovski received 98 grams.
Dekker told the accused supplier in September 2018 she would no longer deal on his behalf, but returned in October.
Meanwhile, Kominkovski told the alleged supplier he would not deal anymore in February 2019.
Kominkovski gave evidence to the District Court that he wanted to stop dealing at that time because he felt guilty.
"I was destroying my life, I was destroying other people's lives, I was bringing my family down... I just generally wanted to change my life," he said.
He told the court he used most of the ice he received for supply.
The court heard Kominkovski spent four months in custody on remand, and 11 months undertaking rehabilitation at Odyssey House.
Defence barrister Robert Steward submitted Kominkovski's voluntary cessation of dealing the drug was important.
Mr Steward said the court should have concern about nullifying his client's rehabilitation progress by sending him to jail.
Dekker did not give evidence, but her defence lawyer, Simon Healy, said his client was at the "lowest level" among her co-offenders, and of a low level compared to other suppliers of similar quantities of meth who appeared before the court.
Mr Healy submitted an imprisonment term of less than two years - the maximum sentence at which the court could consider alternatives to full-time custody - was within range.
He said Dekker had little discretion or power in her role in the criminal enterprise, and her offending occurred when she was vulnerable and "drawn into a web of someone else's making".
The court heard Dekker had spent five months in custody already, and Mr Healy said that over the last six months she had done everything she could to improve her prospects of rehabilitation.
The solicitor acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions told the court the offending was not a single mistake, but involved multiple conscious decisions.
In sentencing Dekker and Kominkovski, Judge Andrew Haesler said the offending was relatively disorganised and low-level, conducted by user-dealers who were addicted to the drug, used much of the product and were selling to meet their own addiction.
But Judge Haesler said the offending was committed without regard for community safety.
Dekker and Kominkovski's pleas attracted a 25 per cent discount on their sentence, he said, and they indicated a degree of remorse and an acceptance of responsibility.
Judge Haesler also noted they had both demonstrated evidence of progress towards rehabilitation, and community safety was not necessarily served by removing an offender from the community.
He said there had been two powerful cases made for leniency, and a custodial sentence would interfere with their progress.
Judge Haesler sentenced both Kominkovski and Dekker to intensive corrections orders, of one year and six months and one year and 10 months, respectively.
Kominkovski must undertake 50 hours of community service, while Dekker must do 150 hours.
They must also undertake rehabilitation and treatment programs as necessary.
But for their guilty pleas, they would have faced three years in jail.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
