DRUG LABORATORY MAN GETS TOUGHER JAIL TERM

Freedom has been fleeting for Manjimup pyrotechnician Stephen Gray Pallister.

Pallister, 38, was acquitted in February of manufacturing
methylamphetamines, aggravated burglary, unlawful wounding and threats to
kill after spending a year in prison on remand.

But within days of his acquittal and release, the Court of Criminal Appeal
was hearing a crown appeal against a sentence Pallister received last year
on a different charge of manufacturing amphetamines.

Pallister pleaded guilty to the charge in September and was sentenced to a
two-year intensive supervision order. Last week, he was resentenced to a
two-year jail term. Police found a clandestine laboratory at Pallister's
Manjimup property in September 2000. It included chemicals and apparatus
used in the manufacture of methylamphetamine.

A report from the Chemistry Centre indicated the laboratory had already
produced 64g of methylamphetamine of an estimated 70 per cent purity.

His lawyer told the court at his original sentencing that the drugs were
for personal use. The 64g had been made during an eight-month period and he
had used it all himself.

Pallister's lawyer said he had a legitimate reason for operating the
laboratory because he was a pyrotechnician and made fireworks.

But during the raid other materials were found which were capable of
producing more than a kilogram of methylamphetamine.

The appeal justices found there was evidence to conclude Pallister was
engaged in a continuous medium to large-scale manufacturing operation
involving at least two different processes of manufacture.

They upheld the grounds of appeal that the original sentence failed to
adequately reflect the seriousness of the offence and the sentencing judge
placed too much emphasis on personal matters.

Justice Robert Anderson said Pallister should be sentenced on the basis he
manufactured the drug entirely for his own use.

He said the starting point for the sentence should have been four years but
taking into consideration all mitigating factors it should be reduced to 2
1/2,* years. A further reduction was made for time spent in custody.