By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Cranbourne man has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking after police seized 160 grams of cannabis, a ‘tick-book’ and nearly $7000 from his bedroom about 5.30am on 31 July.
Alexander Rendell, 24, told police that the cannabis, seized along with a vial of GHB, was for personal use.
He maintained the argument at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 6 August, as well as insisting the ‘tick book’ listed only transactions as recent as 2018.
At the time Rendell was on a three-year community corrections order imposed by the County Court – following a 209-day stint in jail.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said the charge was Rendell’s third trafficking offence, and within a “relatively short time” after his release.
He noted that Rendell had family support, seemed to have insight into his offending but had seemed to fall back into drugs due to “boredom”.
“It seems on the face of it that you’re doing reasonably well on the corrections order. You’re understanding, engaging, doing programs.
“But when you walk away from that environment you’re engaging in the same criminal conduct.”
Rendell’s history included being found with 24 grams of ice while on a motorbike. He was transporting the drug to pay off a debt due to drugs being seized, Rendell’s lawyer said.
In May, Rendell completed drug and alcohol treatment as part of the CCO, the court heard.
He’d attended all appointments bar for one “unacceptable” absence, and been engaged in part-time carpentry work.
“He was engaging on the CCO which is half the battle,” his lawyer said.
Rendell had relapsed with his “previous crowd” after his boss left for Bali and work dried up for a month, the lawyer said.
He was “contemplative” of residential rehab and moving in with relatives in country Victoria to avoid the peer group.
Mr Vandersteen jailed Rendell for eight months for trafficking cannabis, and possessing GHB and proceeds of crime.
Rendell is expected to face a hearing into breaching his CCO at the County Court of Victoria this year.
