Man jailed for making morphine

Press, 8 March 1989, Page 11

Man jailed for making morphine

A man convicted of manufacturing morphine would almost inevitably have an early death unless he changed his ways, Mr Justice Holland said in the High Court yesterday. Brent Wayne Arthur Gillam, aged 30, a panel , beater, was sentenced to 12 months jail for manufacturing morphine, and three months jail, to run

concurrently, for cultivating cannabis. He was convicted and discharged on a charge of possessing equipment for the manufacture of homebake. In sentencing Gillam, Mr Justice Holland said that Gillam’s inability to control his drug problem or his offending meant that a prison sentence was

necessary. “I am disturbed that the alcohol and drug clinic consider that you are not sufficiently motivated for the programme to be successful and you yourself have said that you are not willing because of financial commitments, to undergo the rigours of an Odyssey House programme.

“It makes me wonder if you realise how serious your problem is. You are carrying on killing yourself and unless you do something to stop it an early death is inevitable.” Because Gillam recognised his guilt and his addiction, his Honour said the sentence was less than it should have been but it was still substantial to mark the seriousness of

the crime. In submissions for Gillam, Mr S. C. Barker said Gillam did not have the knowledge to manufacture the morphine but had only supplied the equipment.

Gillam had not provided any of the raw materials and his payment was a small amount of the drug for himself.