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WHILE their roles in Troy Sharam and David Puckridge’s drug distribution business were of a lesser kind, Jason Terry Wayne Climas and Shane Tippins played a major part in its demise.
With Climas as the delivery man and Tippins the street dealer, their contact with police in May 2016 played a major part in the arrest and prosecution of all the defendants.
On May 12, 2016, Tippins had an exchange with two undercover operatives, telling them he could supply them with $100 worth of amphetamines.
Later that day the deal was made with the undercover operatives at a local caravan park and phone numbers were exchanged.
On May 23, 2016, Tippins received a message from the undercover operative asking if he could “grab the same” and Tippins advised the man to call him.
Two days later another exchange was made and Tippins organised someone to meet the undercover operative at McDonalds.
A small amount of “ice” was sold to the officer for $100 cash.
Later that evening, the operative organised a final transaction by sending Tippins a message asking if there was “any chance for one now”.
Tippins and the undercover operative met at a car park and made another $100 transaction.
Just under a month later, on June 15, police raided Tippins’ cabin at the caravan park and found weapons and $6000 cash.
He was remanded in custody until sentencing on Friday, receiving three years and five months imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years for his “less active” offending.
Climas’ first interaction with the police was during a police stop-over at around 3.30am on May 24, 2016.
Police searched his vehicle and located plastic resealable bags and a set of scales.
Within his phone they located messages, which were consistent with drug trafficking.
Later that day, police intercepted communication that Climas was going to leave methylamphetamine at a roadside location for another man to collect.
An officer swooped on the location and seized the item.
Despite not knowing what had happened to the drugs, Climas still agreed to travel to Geelong with Puckridge to obtain more fantasy and ice.
It was when they arrived at a property in Hillcrest, Adelaide, that police moved in, arresting Climas and Puckridge.
In court on Friday, Judge Sydney Tilmouth recognised the smaller role Climas played in the overall drug network when he was sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment.
