A man who appeared in Orange Local Court after police found drugs in his motel room was told he risked death if he continued to use opioids.
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Magistrate David Day asked what Shane McMillan, of Bletchington Street, was going to do about his liking for drugs when he sentenced him for five counts of drug possession.
"It's the opioids that I worry about, if he keeps playing around with them he will kill himself," Mr Day said.
Barrister Frances Lalic said 38-year-old McMillan had been using the drugs for pain relief after being bashed.
According to information presented in court, police attended a motel room where McMillan was staying in Orange for an unrelated matter at 3.15pm on January 6 this year.
McMillan was arrested and cautions and asked police to get his driver's licence for him off the loungeroom table before leaving.
The police went into the room to get the licence and saw prescription medication and a small amount of cannabis next to the licence.
Police cautioned him about the drugs and he admitted the prescription medication was his.
At 6.36pm police conducted a search of the room and found 5.4 grams of methamphetamine and 3.6 grams of cannabis hidden inside of a doorstop that McMillan had screwed back into the wall.
At the police station McMillan refused to leave the dock to be interviewed but was willing to be interviewed with an electronic hand-held recorder.
He said he recently got a head injury and was self medicating for pain relief, he had not seen a doctor but took the medication in a trial and error fashion.
It's the opioids that I worry about, if he keeps playing around with them he will kill himself.
- Magistrate David Day
McMillan was already in custody when he appeared in court via an audio visual link. He had been refused bail for the drug matters.
Mr Day said he took into account other matters that were on McMillan's record for the sentencing and the prospects of rehabilitation were guarded.
He convicted McMillan and placed him on a six-month Community Release Order for possessing five Endone brand oxycodone tablets.
Mr Day gave him identical sentences for possessing of 20 Panadeine Forte tablets and 18 Jurnista brand hydromorphone hydrochloride tablets.
He also gave McMillan a six-month Community Correction Order for possession of 5.7 grams of cannabis leaf and a 12-month CCO with 50 hours of community service for possession of 5.4 grams of methamphetamine.
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