Shepparton drug trafficker jailed

By Shepparton News

Sep 13, 2022

Sentenced: A man has been jailed after police found drugs in his ute and in his house. Photo by Megan Fisher

A routine traffic stop led to a Shepparton drug trafficker being jailed for 18 months.

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Nicholas Joyce, 42, of Shepparton pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, cannabis and GHB, possession of schedule four poison methylphenidate, and dealing with $1470 in cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

In sentencing Joyce on September 12, Magistrate Tara Hartnett said his biggest problem when coming before the court was his prior history stretching back to 2002, including being jailed for drug trafficking in 2019 in the County Court.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Brent O’Grady told the court Joyce was pulled over by police on the Midland Hwy in Shepparton on July 27.

He said police searched his ute after they smelt cannabis emanating from it.

They seized in total 23.89g of methamphetamine, 155.85g of cannabis and a bottle with 300ml of 1,4-Butanediol.

The following day police searched his home and found 350g of cannabis, about a litre of 1,4-Butanediol and $1470 in cash.

Solicitor David McKenna said references demonstrated Joyce had been a good employee and had been assisting his mother, who had poor health.

Mr McKenna told the court Joyce had entered an early guilty plea and had the support of his family.

Joyce will be eligible for parole after 12 months, with 47 days reckoned as already being served.