Alan Patrick Walker, 39, was arrested in October last year following investigations from Strike Force Midwest, established to look into the supply of illegal drugs in the Inverell area.

Lengthy submissions were made on Thursday by his solicitor Guy Newby, including an 'unusual' letter of support from a senior prison official.

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In April 2020, police were issued a warrant to intercept Walker's phone, where numerous phone calls and texts were monitored. They captured a number of drug deals being arranged, where Walker would received drugs for others to purchase.

He was arrested on October 16, and was initially charged with 33 offences and refused bail.

When he pleaded guilty, 22 charges were withdrawn.

"There is another key player higher up the chain. It is very much the case that [Walker] is in the position of a... 'user-dealer'," Mr Newby said in court last week.

Another note in Walker's favour was a letter penned by a senior prison guard at Cessnock prison where Walker was sent after being refused bail. Magistrate Antrum agreed that is was "unusual" to have a reference provided by such a person.

The letter said Walker was "polite and respectful to staff", "works hard", and had the author's confidence that he "will contribute well to society upon his release".

He said Walker "did not take to jail well... it punished him in the beginning". However since then, he had "worked to make the best" of his imprisonment since - as indicated by the reference.

Mr Newby asked the court to consider letting him serve the remaining time in the community, saying he'd be willing to work "diligently" at community service.

The Director of Public Prosecutions representative said nothing but a full-time jail sentence would do, saying Walker's part in the organisation "wasn't insignificant".

She said Walker "offered misleading versions" and was "less than forthright" with police.

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In sentencing, Magistrate Antrum told Walker, "no one is suggesting you were 'Mr Big' but nevertheless you were an essential part of the chain".

"The people who see the real impacts of drugs - family, mental health professionals, doctors, paramedics, police... they see the absolute tragedy and the disgusting and horrible impact," he told Walker.

"By immersing yourself, as a courier, you are taking part in - and I don't use this term lightly on the bench - an evil enterprise."

Walker was sentenced to an aggregate prison sentence of 22 months, backdated from October 16, 2020, with a non-parole period of 13 months. Special circumstances were found for his prospects of rehabilitation.

For the three charges relating to his search, he was convicted of the charge of possession without further penalty. He was convicted of two counts of supply and given a nine-month prison term for each.

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