Gary McIntosh jailed for his role in meth trafficking ring targeting WA’s Kimberley region

Intercepted phone calls and a police investigation stretching into Western Australia have led to a man being jailed for five years for his role in a drug distribution ring targeting the state’s Kimberley .

Gary Troy McIntosh was sentenced in Perth District Court on Tuesday for his role in the supply of a trafficable quantity of methylamphetamine in 2022.

District Court Judge Michael Gething sentenced the 50-year-old to five years and six months in prison for his role in six drug-related offences.

McIntosh pleaded guilty to the charges, which included two counts of selling a trafficable amount of methylamphetamine and two counts of conspiracy to sell the drug.

Two charges also involved possession and cultivation of cannabis with intent to sell or supply.

The court heard police learned of McIntosh’s offending through Derby detectives targeting an alleged drug ring in the Kimberley.

Kimberley man Mark Richard Shadforth was sentenced in Broome District Court earlier this month to five years and eight months in prison for his role in transporting methylamphetamine from Perth to far north Washington .

Detectives intercepted Shadforth’s calls in July 2022, leading authorities to implicate McIntosh in supplying the drug.

The court knows the facts of drugs

Judge Gething said McIntosh was a mid-level facilitator who supplied methylamphetamine to support and fund a drug habit.

The court heard Shadforth and another defendant traveled to Perth in July 2022 and agreed with McIntosh to buy about 113 grams of methylamphetamine for $48,000.

Police identified several meetings in the parking lot of a grocery store in Baldivis where McIntosh sold Shadforth about 56 grams of methylamphetamine and another 56 grams at an unknown location.

The court heard that Shadforth returned with the other defendant to Derby and was stopped on the Great Northern Highway by police, who discovered 132.6 grams of methylamphetamine.

On August 4, a search warrant was executed at McIntosh’s Hillman property, where police found 2.75 kilograms of packaged cannabis and three cannabis plants growing in a “hydroponic setup”.

The court also heard that McIntosh conspired to supply drugs in May and June 2022.

The first count amounted to 56 grams of methylamphetamine in exchange for $25,000 and 59 grams of methylamphetamine in exchange for $26,000.

Judge Gething said McIntosh’s drug dealings amounted to a total value of $100,000, highlighting the seriousness of his offending.

Addiction causing ‘widespread misery’

Judge Gething emphasized the harm caused by addiction to methylamphetamine.

“Drug addiction, particularly methylamphetamine, causes widespread misery in the community,” he said.

Judge Gething also considered deterrence for people who commit various drug-related offenses in the community.

The court heard that McIntosh was struggling with mental health issues.

He described his decision to engage in drug dealing as the biggest regret of his life.

A pre-sentence report handed to the court showed McIntosh’s offending occurred in the context of unemployment, poor mental health and the use of methylamphetamine.

Taking into account McIntosh’s circumstances surrounding the offending, the personal background of a traumatic childhood and the guilty plea, Judge Gething determined that a total effective sentence of five years and six months was appropriate.

Judge Gething also made an order declaring McIntosh a drug dealer.

McIntosh will be eligible for parole after serving three years and six months in prison.