Judge Mark Taft made the comment during an appeal in Warrnambool County Court by Warrnambool ice user/dealer Shane Carlin.

Carlin, 21, of Howard Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court during November last year to trafficking and using crystal methamphetamine, possessing and trafficking cannabis, possessing a weapon and failing to correctly store a rifle.

He was fined $2000 and received a three-month jail sentence which was suspended for 18 months after he refused to undertake a community corrections order.

Yesterday Judge Taft said commonsense had prevailed and Carlin was now willing to complete a CCO with treatment conditions to address drug use and anger management. 

“Methamphetamine is a scourge,” Judge Taft said.

“A review showed ice figured in 60 per cent of cases before me in a 12-month period. The effects can be devastating. It should not be underestimated.

“To be a productive member of community you can’t use ice,” Judge Taft told Carlin. “If you use it, it will wreck your life.”

Police said Carlin trafficked ice between July 4 and August 23 last year and, in hundreds of text messages, there were references to fishing among other far more obvious references to drug dealing.

The case was sparked after police intercepted a ute in which Carlin was a passenger.

In a bag on the floor they found Carlin’s identification, three bags of ice, $935 in cash and a mobile phone which was analysed and found to contain evidence of drug trafficking.

Police then went to Carlin’s home and found two bags of cannabis, knuckle dusters, plastic deal bags, digital scales and a .22 calibre rifle.

Defence counsel Zarah Garde-Wilson said her client had never been in trouble before and was now willing to complete a CCO. 

Carlin was convicted, fined $1000, placed on a 12-month CCO with conditions he complete 175 hours community work and undertake assessment and treatment for alcohol, dugs and mental health issues.