A former Canberra restaurant owner was released from prison on Friday, after more than seven months inside, and given a shot at redemption following drug trafficking and weapons convictions.
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The court heard how Daniel McConnell-Imbriotis, 29, a promising young chef fell down a "slippery slope" battling drug addiction after a traumatic armed robbery and losing his business in 2017.
McConnell-Imbriotis pleaded guilty to eight charges, including trafficking methamphetamine, illegally possessing a firearm and possessing ammunition. He was sentenced to two years and 10 months in jail.
He was arrested after failing to stop his motorcycle and refusing a roadside drug test. A search of his bag uncovered methamphetamine, more than $1600 in cash, shotgun shells and other illegal items.
McConnell-Imbriotis, according to agreed facts, was acting as a courier between his personal drug dealer and another person, although he did not know the exact contents of the bag.
Months later police uncovered more drugs, cash and a Winchester .22 Magnum rifle in searches of his car and home.
Defence lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith said his client had originally acted "to remain in the good graces" of his drug dealer, before progressing to trafficking to pay off his own drug debts.
However, it was accepted McConnell-Imbriotis was low in the overall organisational hierarchy.
References before the court spoke of a well-respected young man who grew up in a supportive family and thrived as a chef's apprentice and later owned Kingston restaurant Jones & Co.
McConnell-Imbriotis undertook an apprenticeship at Sydney's Quay restaurant, considered one of Australia's best restaurants, and was offered a job on the spot by executive chef Peter Gilmore, his parents told the court.
But his life unravelled after a violent car jacking at knife point in 2017. Not long after he reported being kicked out of his restaurant and losing his investment which represented his life savings.
After trying methamphetamine aged 21, McConnell-Imbriotis said the traumatic situation turned him into a regular user. He was using ice daily when he committed the offences.
Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson recognised McConnell-Imbriotis was at a "crossroads" in his life and allowed him to serve the rest of his sentence, 27 months, in the community through an intensive corrections order.
She said having a supportive family and partner, skilled work opportunities, a demonstrated desire to engage in rehabilitation and having accepted the consequences of his actions warranted some leniency.
"You've experienced jail and you know what awaits you," Justice Loukas-Karlsson told McConnell-Imbriotis if he failed to comply with the court order.
"Grab this opportunity with both hands.
"You can be a much better person than the one that committed those offences. This period of your life... does not need to define your future.
"You can be a very worthwhile member of our community."