A third-time drug dealer will spend another four months in jail after careful sentencing consideration by a Warrnambool magistrate.
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Kieren Miller, 25, of Churchill Street, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to drug, weapon and driving offences.
The court heard he had spent 96 days in custody on remand - an experience his lawyer Caroline Salter said was more burdensome on him than most.
Miss Salter said Miller's mother was terminally ill and that her client was being kept in protective custody after he was subjected to a number of assaults in prison.
She urged the magistrate to consider releasing her client from custody so that he could share in some of his mother's last moments.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann, who stood down the court as he considered his verdict, said it was a difficult exercise when considering Miller's family support and particular circumstances.
But, he said drug trafficking was a blight on small communities and those involved in the sale of illicit drugs were at risk of considerable penalties.
"I have a very dim view of drug trafficking," Mr Stratmann said.
"It is very serious in small communities such as this one."
Miller was sentenced to seven months' jail with 96 days already counted as time served.
His driver's licence was cancelled for two years.
On May 23 a search warrant was executed at Miller's Churchill Avenue home at 8.45am
Police uncovered .50 grams of ice, seven prescription tablets Olanzapine, empty deal bags, digital scales, a blade throwing star and six mobile phones.
The court heard Miller was not prescribed Olanzapine, which is primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
A brief analysis of one of the mobile phones revealed evidence of ice trafficking since at least March 1.
Miller also pleaded guilty to driving unlicensed and on drugs on several occasions throughout Warrnambool.
At the time of the offending he was on two community corrections orders and wanted on four outstanding warrants.
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