Australasian Biker News
18 April 2008 - 8:34AM
Four years each
By Simon Chamberlain
Convicted drug dealers and members of the Rebels outlaw bikie gang Aaron
Paul, Patrick Simmonds and David Lee Keen have each been sentenced to
four years’ jail on drug charges.
They were told by Tamworth District Court Judge Toner yesterday the
sentences should lead to their rehabilitation and allow them to overcome
their drug and alcohol abuse issues.
Keen was sentenced to four years’ jail for his role in supplying drugs
including methylamphetamine and MDMA or ecstasy.
Judge Toner took into account an early guilty plea and awarded a 25 per
cent discount on Keen’s sentence – a position also supported by the
Crown prosecution. Keen will be eligible for parole on October 13, 2009,
taking into account time served since October 19 last year. The judge
acknowledged Keen’s role in the drug trafficking operation was at a
lower level than Simmonds’.
Simmonds, who also received a four year sentence, will become eligible
for parole on June 16, 2010.
Judge Toner told both men prison was an “unpleasant and often brutal
place”. He said the support and love shown to Keen and Simmonds by
family and friends during the sentencing hearing was proof they had
people behind them.
“This will assist you when you come out of jail,” Judge Toner said.
He said Keen had a “minimal criminal history”. He had previously been
fined for exceeding the prescribed content of alcohol (PCA) limit and
for assault.
Keen had a sad history of drug and alcohol abuse from the age of 12 and
had grown up without a father.
His grandparents had been his primary carers.
Judge Toner said that as a result of his arrest and incarceration last
October Keen was now “free of substance abuse”.
As Keen was led from the dock, family and friends called out their
support saying: “see you Dave, love you Dave”.
Keen smiled and waved in response.
Before the hearing Simmonds stopped and embraced a supporter in the
courtroom.
He was heard to say: “see you when I get out”.
Simmonds bowed his head when Judge Toner told him to stand to receive
his sentence. He sat for a time with his head lowered after the sentence
was passed.
Keen’s mother, Cheryl Keen, said the passing of the sentence was now
“closure” for her and her family.
“We’re very happy with the result,” she said.
Keen’s grandmother Norma Hicks, who had been Keen’s primary carer when
he grew up, said “thank God” when asked what she thought of the
sentence. She said Keen’s sentence should also be an example to his many
friends and relations to steer clear of drug abuse.
A member of the police undercover taskforce that collected the evidence
and arrested Simmonds and Keen was in the court to witness the
sentencing.
When asked for his thoughts on the judgement he said he “couldn’t make
comment on or off the record”.
The convicted men’s solicitor, Alexander Harmstorf, said Keen was
already classified as a C1 or low-risk prisoner and would serve his
sentence in a minimum security centre.
He said Simmonds would have to serve at least six months in a higher
security centre like Cessnock before being able to be classified as a
low-risk prisoner.