Is this Australia's version of Breaking Bad?
FIRST ON 7: A pilot who flew a private plane to smuggle drugs from overseas to a small air strip near Wollongong has been granted bail ahead of an appeal against his 19 month sentence.
44-year-old Bernard Stevemuir is dying of melanoma, and says he took the fateful voyage to try to secure money for his family to live off once he passed away.
His story bears a striking resemblance to the acclaimed TV series ‘Breaking Bad’ in which a science teacher diagnosed with cancer uses his skills to deal in drugs.
The plane was flown into Australia with a $6 million cargo of precursor for amphetamines.
Stevemuir was ‘flying bad’ in June last year, travelling from Florida and half way around the world to Wollongong via Malaysia where the plane was loaded with 60 kilograms of pseudoephedrine.
At his sentencing Stevemyer's lawyer said his client is “absolutely devastated. His shame and remorse are extremely deep.”
"He's taken full responsibility but in light of all the circumstances perhaps the sentence was a little severe but we'll see."
Police agreed the 44-year-old flew for the crime syndicate to secure his family's future while faced with the death sentence diagnosed by his doctors.
Port Kembla Court was told Stevemuir's chances of surviving cancer in the next five years were just 10 percent but the Magistrate sentenced him to 19 months jail despite his early guilty pleas.
Detective Inspector Jason Weinstein told 7News that Stevemuir will be dealth with with the full force of the law.
"I want to assure the community that no matter how sophisticated people believe they can engage in criminal activity you will be caught,” Inspector Weinstein said.
Stevemuir immediately appealed the sentence and was bailed ahead of his next court appearance in June.
