A FORMER Toyota mechanic turned to a life of drugs and crime due to the “mental fallout” of being laid off from work, a court has heard.
Mark Ranaudo, 33, was retrenched from Toyota’s Altona manufacturing plant in April last year after working there for more than a decade.
Last Wednesday, Werribee Magistrates Court heard submissions arguing “that was when he came off the rails . . . his mental state declined and he sought solace in drugs”.
Ranaudo pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs and possession of an illegal firearm.
Detectives launched an investigation into Ranaudo last year and raided his Hoppers Crossing house in September, seizing drugs including crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine. They found cutting agents, zip-lock bags, scales and a black diary with names and phone numbers that police believed were those of people who owed him drug debts.
The court heard police also found a wooden case that was being used to store a .45 Remington handgun. Inside the box were 18 live rounds of ammunition and five expended rounds. The gun was not at the house.
Police arrested Ranaudo nearby and found the gun in his car with seven rounds loaded.
Ranaudo’s defence counsel, who said the father-of-four had no prior criminal history or traffic convictions, tendered psychologist reports that found he had experienced “emotional turmoil to the point of crisis” after being retrenched.
The court heard he had been paid a $60,000 redundancy, had too much time on his hands and began using amphetamines twice a week. He was expressing remorse and regret and had stopped using drugs.
Ranaudo was given a 12-month community corrections order and ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid community work.
