A man bought a large amount of drugs on the dark web to sell to friends but soon realised it was the "worst job he ever had", a judge has been told.
Peter John Kelso pleaded guilty to multiple charges at the Brisbane Supreme Court including trafficking, producing and having dangerous drugs as well as possessing and distributing child exploitation material.
The now 40-year-old bought methamphetamine, MDMA, ketamine, cannabis and cocaine on the dark web in 2020.
Over six months to April 2021, he sold the drugs to at least 10 people with six of his regular customers considered friends.
His roommate at the time was buying meth from Kelso, but didn't pay up, with a spreadsheet revealing he was owed more than $16,000.
"You did not have an effective debt recovery system," Justice Thomas Bradley said during sentencing on Tuesday.
Justice Bradley said there was no evidence Kelso profited from the drug dealing business.
He also attempted to grow cannabis in a storage unit and planned to grow magic mushrooms.
Kelso had begun heavily using meth while he was dealing, with some of the dark web supply going to himself.
He gave up the drug dealing business after April 2021, but police came knocking on his door in December that year with a search warrant.
They found a range of drugs at his Hamilton home, in Brisbane's north, as well as drug paraphernalia.
During interviews with police, Kelso told officers drug dealing was a "terrible business" and was the "worst job he ever had" because people "would call at any time".
Hundreds of images and videos of child exploitation material - containing infants to teens - were also found on Kelso's phone and computer during the December search.
A pillowcase with a cartoon image of a young naked girl was also located.
Evidence from Kelso's WhatsApp and Telegram revealed he was distributing the material which he would later tell police was an exchange system so he could obtain more.
Justice Bradley took into consideration during sentencing that Kelso had ceased using drugs since his arrest and had accessed counselling for his mental health issues.
He also considered Kelso's lack of criminal record and the fact he pleaded guilty early in the judicial process.
"In that way, you indicated that you take personal responsibility," the judge said.
Justice Bradley sentenced Kelso to four years in prison, but he will be eligible for parole after serving 12 months.
