R v Cossey

Roman John Cossey was convicted by Gault J of supplying and offering to supply methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine for supply, and breaching a parole condition. The Crown recommended a sentence of between two and a half to three years’ imprisonment, while the defence recommended a community-based sentence. The court accepted the facts on which Cossey pleaded guilty, including that he supplied or offered to supply at least 114.75 grams of methamphetamine on at least 36 occasions, and was found in possession of approximately 20.74 grams of methamphetamine with nearly $20,000 in cash, indicating possession for supply. The court considered various personal factors, including Cossey's history of drug-related and driving-related offending, his remorse for his offending, and his willingness to undertake rehabilitation programmes. The court also considered the aggravating and mitigating features of Cossey's offending, including the substantial commerciality and premeditated nature of his offending, and his lesser role in the criminal operation. The court set a starting point of four years and six months’ imprisonment, then uplifted it by 15 per cent, and discounted it by 60 per cent. The court also considered the totality of Cossey's offending, which was insufficiently connected to his current offending, and deducted six months for totality. The court sentenced Cossey to two years and four months’ imprisonment, and ordered the forfeiture of the money found in his possession. The court did not impose a fine.