Unlucky in love on reality TV show Married At First Sight, Christopher Mark Jensen has left court with a new bride-to-be after avoiding jail for drug trafficking.
Jensen, 34, departed Brisbane Supreme Court hand-in-hand with his fiancee Tayla Made after receiving a suspended prison sentence thanks to his "extraordinary" case.
The court heard Jensen has been on bail with serious charges hanging over his head for almost five years - a period that included his popular 2021 MAFS stint.
Justice Paul Freeburn on Friday said the charges would ordinarily result in prison time but believed Jensen's matter had "exceptional" circumstances.
His fiancee embraced his mother in court when Jensen received a suspended jail term before making a quick exit together, avoiding waiting media.
Jensen was 29 when he was arrested in October 2017 during Queensland Police's Operation Papa Argyle that targeted Sunshine Coast drug trafficking.
Police discovered Jensen bought wholesale quantities of largely cannabis and on occasion cocaine and MDMA, selling them to his own customers over four months, the court heard.
"The defendant was nicknamed 'Dreads' on account of his dreadlocked haircut at the time," crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus said.
Using an encrypted messaging app with suppliers and customers, he received a total of 49 pounds or about 22kg of cannabis from June to October 2017 to sell with an associate.
Jensen was arrested when a police search of his Sunshine Coast home found cannabis and $5800 in cash.
"These were substantial quantities being offloaded over a short period of time - it is best described as an intense period of trafficking," Mr Andronicus said.
Jensen - who had no previous criminal history - has been on bail since, allowing him to appear in MAFS.
He became a fan favourite despite a short-lived romance with his on-screen bride Jaimie Gardner.
Jensen - a licensed plumber - was also working while on bail to support his two children from a previous relationship, defence barrister Alastair McDougall said.
Jensen has also donated his time working as a model for various charities, he said.
Mr McDougall said Jensen first turned to cannabis after suffering a back injury in a 2016 skateboarding accident but was drug-free since his arrest.
He described Jensen's wait for his sentencing as "probably the longest" he had seen.
Justice Freeburn said it was a "mystery" why it had taken so long.
"You were arrested on these charges four years and 10 months ago," he said.
"I am just having trouble understanding the delay. It does seem to be extraordinary that we are sitting here dealing with events that occurred in 2017.
"I would ordinarily impose a custodial case for this type of serious offending ...(but) in my view this is an exceptional case."
Jensen pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying a dangerous drug and one count of trafficking a dangerous drug.
He was sentenced to four years in jail, immediately suspended for four years.
Australian Associated Press
