READ MORE: Police halt drug distribution cell
READ MORE: Drug trafficking downfall starts at bottom
LIMESTONE Coast drug trafficker David “MC Puck” Puckridge appears to have become the person he spat rhymes about after penning the lyrics to rap song “Chemical Society” in 2008.
Labelling drug dealers as “money hungry” and “shifty”, Puckridge’s lyrics became a reality last Friday, when he was jailed for eight years, 11 months and 27 days for several drug trafficking and firearms offences.
Puckridge was sentenced for 13 counts of trafficking in methylamphetamine, two counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of fantasy and one count of trafficking in a commercial quantity of fantasy.
While he described himself on Triple J Unearthed as one of the best Aussie hip hop artists in Mount Gambier, Puckridge’s rap career never got off the ground and his life spiralled into the subject of his rhymes.
Even a listener on the website seemed to predict the future, leaving a review, which described the song as “awesome lyrics that you can relate to”.
Puckridge’s real-life “chemical society” became public knowledge on September 10, 2013, when he was arrested by police after they found more than 20 grams of methylamphetamine during a search of his vehicle.
He was bailed for the offending, however on October 28, 2013, police executed a search warrant of his home and uncovered more than 18 grams of drugs, $3400 cash, scales, plastic re-sealable bags and other equipment.
During court proceedings on this occasion Puckridge admitted to selling the drug to a small group of close friends, but denied operating a large commercial drug operation.
He was eventually sentenced in the Mount Gambier District Court on July 18, 2014, to four years and two months imprisonment with a two year non-parole period.
It was only shortly after his release that Puckridge was back in the drug game.
He travelled to Melbourne with co-accused Tony Brian Sharam to acquire a substantial amount of methylamphetamine on February 29, 2016.
Sharam was arrested on March 4, 2016, in Glencoe and while he remained in prison Puckridge continued to supply methylamphetamine to others at his behest, both to end users and other drug dealers
Court evidence revealed Puckridge pleaded guilty to 13 counts of trafficking in methylamphetamine, which involved the purchase of more than 1078g of amphetamines and 17 litres of fantasy between April 9 and May 28.
The combined purchase price was $161,900.
The offence of trafficking in a commercial quantity of fantasy occured in early April, 2016, when he purchased eight ounces of methylamphetamine and five litres of fantasy in Victoria for a total price of $35,100 and intended to sell the substances.
Puckridge pleaded guilty to two more serious charges of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of fantasy.
The first offence related to the purchase of 10 litres of fantasy between April 15 and April 25, 2016, which he sold for $14,000.
The final count related to the purchase of 12 litres of fantasy from Melbourne for $11,800 between April 24 and April 25.
Puckridge drove to Geelong to collect the drugs to then sell, however was apprehended by police when he returned to a property in Hillcrest.
All of the offending occurred while Puckridge was on parole for the 2014 trafficking offences.
Puckridge will now spend a significant amount of time in prison after a non-parole period of five years and six months was set on the head sentence.
Judge Sydney Tilmouth said there were still prospects that Puckridge could rehabilitate on his release from prison.
“You have proven capable of giving up drugs if you put your mind to it, but you have also proven vulnerable to relapse, particularly under pressure,” Judge Timouth said.
He will have a long time to think about whether a return to the “chemical society” is worth it.
