Drug supply crackdown: Tamworth magistrate argues too many dealing cases in court

Magistrate Julie Soars said there are too many drug supply cases running through Tamworth Local Court, and has warned she will crack down on suppliers.

A 21-year-old man who supplied five MDMA tablets on a night out was convicted and sentenced to a 14-month community corrections order and $300 fine on Monday.

Brock Joseph Edward Ridgewell was at Wests Diggers in Tamworth on October 12 when a friend texted him to ask for three capsules of MDMA.

Ridgewell wrote back: "Yeah all g", and told the man the drugs would cost him $75.

Later that night a security guard caught Ridgewell selling five capsules of MDMA and called police.

Defence solicitor Peter Schmidt argued Ridgewell dealt the drugs "off the cuff" and that as a young man with his life ahead of him, a drug supply conviction could impede his ability to travel internationally in the future.

Although it was a one-off and Ridgewell had no prior criminal history, Ms Soars said any amount of drugs sold was a serious matter.

"Sergeant, you, I and Mr Schmidt know how many drug matters have come through this court and there's too many in Tamworth, which is why general deterrence is important," she said.

"I do, as you know, deal frequently with possess matters along those lines but with supply matters there is an expectation that it be dealt with seriously."

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In a reasonably small community like Tamworth, the court had a responsibility to take a stance on drug supply, police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie said.

"He admitted to five capsules and to selling five for $100 so he's made some money out of it as well," he said.

"It's a hard one for the prosecution to come at in terms of a non-conviction."

Ridgewell was ordered to continue to engage with drug and alcohol counselling.

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