An inmate at Canberra's jail who once spent up to $1200 a day on ice has told a court of the regret that kicked in when he took a hit of the drug inside the prison's walls.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
David Michael Evans spoke of his drug habit when he faced the ACT Supreme Court for a sentencing hearing over an aggravated burglary and theft at an inner city hotel.
Evans checked into a room at a Northbourne Avenue hotel for one night during a crime spree that involved a string of offences committed between November 2014 and February this year, the court was told.
During his one-night stay, Evans and a male co-offender went into an unlocked room at the hotel and stole two flat-screen televisions, the contents of the minibar and some linen.
Evans told the court that he was spending between $700 and $1200 a day on ice at the time of the theft and he wasn't thinking clearly because he was on drugs.
He said his substance abuse made him feel good and if he didn't have ice in the morning he wouldn't function.
"It took a lot of my life. I regret every day of it."
Evans, who is in custody at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, told the court he had only spent about 18 months out of jail in the past five years.
Under questioning from Acting Justice David Robinson, Evans said that "of course" there were drugs inside the territory's prison.
"I've been offered ice in there," he said. "It made me proud I could say no to it."
Evans said he had been on a daily dose of methadone since June to help curb his addiction but he'd been tempted by the drug in prison.
"I'll tell you the truth, I did have some ice in there," he said.
"I realised it was time to change. It was a turning point."
Evans also said he suffered serious facial injuries when four other male inmates attacked him over a drug dispute earlier this year and he had to have several operations to reconstruct the side of his face.
He said under cross-examination that he had also taken a heroin withdrawal drug, similar to methadone, that he obtained from another inmate and used as pain relief after his surgeries.
Evans told the court his partner wasn't in "a life of drugs and crime" and once he was released from jail he wanted to move to Perth or Darwin to get away from Canberra and start "a proper life".
"I chose ice before my family and I should never have done it. They should have been number one."
Evans' defence lawyer argued the crimes were opportunistic and his client hadn't broken into the hotel room or attempted to give a false identity.
He said his client had expressed interest in drug rehabilitation and anger management programs in jail.
Crown prosecutor David Swan said the offences were at the lower end of seriousness for their type.
Acting Justice Robinson said there was no reason to give up on Evans and his chances of rehabilitation.
He reserved his decision and said he would publish his sentence later this month.
