Jockey's biggest fall: Injury sparks huge drug ring

By Andrew Thomson
Updated November 7 2012 - 12:24pm, first published January 29 2009 - 9:40am
Ben Jenkins after his accident. 060309GW22
Ben Jenkins after his accident. 060309GW22

A TRACKWORK accident which left a young rider with multiple fractures to his right leg in March 2006 sparked the biggest drug ring in Warrnambool's history.Ben Jenkins was injured in a fall from an unraced two-year-old colt at the Warrnambool racecourse. He spent two months in hospital and 11 months off work. During his recovery, Jenkins started using drugs. He teamed up with former schoolmate James Turnbull, who was living in Port Melbourne and who supplied drugs to Jenkins and other young men aged in their late teens and early 20s.A drug ring bloomed in Warrnambool, attracting the attention of detectives who ran an eight-month investigation from August 2006 tagged Operation Rasper. It led to 18 men being charged with their involvement in drug trafficking and use.Rasper involved four undercover drug purchases, 5000 recorded telephone conversations and text massages and seized TAB telephone account records. The operation ended in April 2007 with 11 raids on addresses in Warrnambool and Melbourne.In August last year, the men caught in Operation Rasper pleaded guilty to various charges of trafficking, possession and the use of amphetamines, ecstasy and cannabis. Fourteen were dealt with in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court while four of the key players had their plea hearings started in the Warrnambool County Court.Benjamin Mark Jenkins, 21, of Wooles Avenue, Warrnambool, James Kevin Turnbull, 21, previously of Port Melbourne and now of Simpson, Joshua Robert Lang, 22, of Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, and Adam Luke Rogers, 22, of Karana Drive, Warrnambool, yesterday pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.Previously Warrnambool's Matthew Plater, 25, of Laverock Road, was the defendant dealt with most harshly. He was jailed for 15 months, nine to be served immediately with six months suspended for two years.Other defendants included Tim Baulch, Matthew Bellingham, Leigh Downes, Matthew Eccles, Ryan Halt, Tyson Huggins, Zachary Huggins, Matthew O'Shannasy, Michael Kane, Scott Parsons, Joel Trigg, Geoffrey Turnbull and Alister Williams.Yesterday defence counsel John Livitsanos said Jenkins' injury was not an excuse but the trigger for his drug involvement. He said Jenkins was an opportunistic offender after a quick dollar, as his WorkCover payments did not cover commitments for bank loans of $15,000.Mr Livitsanos said Jenkins trafficked drugs to support his own use and his financial commitments.The court heard that Turnbull was the main supplier to the drug ring. He was originally from Simpson before his family moved to Queensland. When his parents separated, Turnbull, then 14, lived with his father in Port Melbourne. His father had issues with alcohol and his mother was addicted to heroin.Turnbull played football with the Western Jets in the TAC Cup competition and started using drugs socially at rave parties and at nightclubs.The hearing before Judge Joe Gullaci will continue today. The four defendants are expected to be sentenced at a later date.

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