It showed the Lake Albert man holding significant quantities of cash.

But Foster’s flashy and seedy world came crashing down on March 4 last year when police attached to a strike force formed to investigate his suspected drug dealing moved in after he had just sold 1.3 kilograms of cannabis for $10,750 to two men termed the “Forbes boys” by police.

Foster, 23, was sentenced in Wagga District Court this week after pleading guilty to six offences, the most serious of which were supplying a commercial quantity of cannabis (31.5 kilograms), supplying a prohibited drug (6.605kg of cannabis) and supplying 28 grams of cocaine.

He was given an aggregate head sentence of two years and nine months, with a non-parole period of one year and five months backdated to April 6 to take into account 49 days Foster spent in custody between his arrest and being granted bail.

The Forbes boys, who on-sold the cannabis bought from Foster, and a woman who acted as a drug mule for him have previously been dealt with by the courts.

A statement of facts tendered to Judge Phillip Mahony SC this week said Foster sourced his cannabis and cocaine from a contact in Yass referred to by police as “The Mann”.

Telephone intercepts and records recorded Foster making tens of drug deals with customers worth many thousands of dollars in 2016.

In its sentencing submissions, the Crown described Foster as a middle man, or an up-line supplier, and claimed there was an element of greed in his activities.

Judge Mahony said the Crown submitted “There was a large amount of money involved in the transactions and clear evidence he was motivated by financial gain”.

Foster’s barrister, Christine Mendes, put to Judge Mahony that Foster’s moral culpability was significantly lessened because he had a dysfunctional upbringing that included him being abused and exposed to serious drugs as a child.

Foster’s traumatic and neglectful childhood led to a depressive disorder while his drug use from a young age led to Cannabis Use Disorder, the court heard.

A psychologist engaged for Foster’s defence described him as a “very vulnerable young man who has had a very difficult life” and said his pathway to addiction was understandable.

Judge Mahony described Foster’s offending as serious.

And he rejected the defence submission that “the enterprise was relatively small for a commercial operation.”

Foster will be eligible to be considered for parole on September 9, 2018.