A 28-year-old Mandurah man from a "well-known" family has been jailed for 12 months, after an Australian Post parcel containing drugs, hidden in a book, was intercepted by police.
Daniel Leigh Hawes was sentenced in the Perth District Court on March 27, after pleading guilty to attempting to possess a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply to another and possessing a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply to another.
The Alcoa electrician will have to serve six months in jail, before being able to apply for parole.
State prosecutor Matthew Keogh told the court 13.9g of MDMA was hidden in a Collins Notebook, which had a square cut out in the middle. The drugs were valued at about $1200.
Mr Keogh said a replica package was sent to Hawes' Breakwater Parade home, after the drugs were intercepted by police in Belmont on June 1, 2017.
Hawes was arrested and his home was searched, with officers also finding 500 empty gel capsules, 10 tabs of LSD, 0.39 grams of cocaine, three dexamphetamine tablets, two fists of Xanax, two digital scales and a further 6.11 grams of MDMA.
Hawes was found with one Tadalafil tablet in his wallet, used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Hawes' lawyer Trent Petherick told the court his client was selling ecstasy to a "close group of friends" on a cost-recovery basis and keeping some for personal use.
Judge Troy Sweeney told the court Hawes allowed a friend to use his address to purchase the larger quantity of drugs through the mail, on the basis that Hawes would receive six grams as payment.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment or a $100,000 fine.
Mr Petherick said Hawes' drug habit "spiralled out of control" after his de facto partner left him.
He said prior to becoming involved with drugs, Hawes was a "model student".
Mr Petherick said Hawes had stopped using drugs and was attending counselling.
On Tuesday, Hawes pleaded guilty to possessing the LSD, cocaine, dexamphetamine and Tadalafil for personal use, when he appeared in the Mandurah Magistrates Court via video link from Casuarina Prison.
Mr Petherick said Hawes had a "strong, local family" involved in netball and basketball and his mother had won awards for her volunteering.
Hawes was fined $1,200.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
