They had known each other just a few months and the accomplice was six years older than Le, who was 19 at the time and had expected a gram or perhaps two as payment.

Le knew there were drugs in the car, but was unaware of the quantity.

District Court Judge Peter Whitford yesterday described Le as “an unwitting dupe” in the transportation of drugs when sentencing him over his involvement.

Le appeared in custody in the District Court at Albury after previously pleading guilty to charges of supply in excess of a commercial quantity of ice and supply a small amount of prohibited drug, but less than the indictable quantity.

Judge Whitford outlined how Le’s accomplice was driving at excessive speed along the Hume freeway near Mullengandra on January 14 which led to highway patrol officers stopping them.

The accomplice was nervous, officers decided to search the car and found ice with an estimated street value of between $150,000 and $200,000.

Before Le was aware officers had found two bags containing drugs in the boot, he told them: “You won’t find my fingerprints on any bags.”

One clear plastic bag contained 97 grams of ice which had a purity of 81 per cent.

Another silver vacuum sealed bag had 508 grams with a purity of 74.5 per cent.

Judge Whitford said Le’s offending was at the lowest end of criminal conduct for such matters.

Le was less than four years old when he came to Australia from Vietnam.

He left school in year Nine when expelled, had an unstable and drifting adolescence and began using drugs at 16.

Judge Whitford said Le had been using ice daily for 18 months before his arrest.

He weighed 45 kilograms and was an “unhealthy, skeletal individual at the time”.

Le was withdrawing from the drug when first in custody and is now 20 kilograms heavier.

Le was sentenced to three years’ jail on the more serious charge, with a minimum term of 12 months expiring on January 13 next year.

He received one year and nine months, with a minimum of seven months, on the other charge which will be concurrent.

Judge Whitford ordered Le to attend a residential rehabilitation program assessment within seven days of being released from custody.