Bunbury man sent to prison for dealing methamphetamine

Alan Richard Mayes, 57, was arrested in Carey Park in February 2015. Police and officers from the Tactical Response Group had been called to the house just after 8am with reports a firearm may have been discharged. 

Mayes was taken into custody 90 minutes later and a search of his Kimber Street home found a bag with 3.8 grams of methamphetamine, a bag with 3.05 grams of methamphetamine and $2000 cash police believed to be stolen or unlawfully obtained. 

Appearing in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday, Mayes admitted he swapped cannabis for methamphetamine “from time to time” and he consumed meth to help him “get by” with a number of medical issues including arthritis and sciatica.

He also admitted some of the $2000 was the proceeds of drug deals. 

Magistrate Evan Shackleton said he felt the financial incentives offered through the sale of methamphetamine made a term of immediate imprisonment the only appropriate sentence. 

Mayes was jailed for 12 months on each of the possession with intent to sell or supply charges to be served concurrently. A further term of four months for possessing unlawfully obtained property was also ordered to be served concurrently. 

A $300 fine and court costs of $188 were imposed on a related charge of possessing a prohibited drug. 

Mayes was made eligible for parole.