Nicholls, described as a mid-level supplier, had been supporting his own heavy use of the highly-addictive substance, Albury Local Court heard yesterday.

He appeared in court on 122 charges after his arrest by Albury drug squad detectives.

The extent of his involvement in dealing ice was outlined in tendered police facts during a bail application, but magistrate Tony Murray rejected Nicholls’ bid for release saying it was an exceptionally strong case.

It was alleged Nicholls had supplied amounts of ice varying from 0.1 gram to two grams in single transactions.

At one stage, he had in his possession 84 grams (three ounces), well in excess of the indictable quantity.

There was evidence Nicholls had supplied ice while working as a lifeguard at the Lavington Swim Centre.

That employment had been terminated.

He has been working as a pizza delivery driver at Lavington.

Police estimate he provided 31.8 grams for $22,755 based on the price list found on one of his phones.

Nicholls, 25, of Racecourse Road, has been charged with 33 counts of drug supplying, 17 counts of offering to supply, 63 counts of agreeing to supply, one of knowingly taking part in supply, self-administering a drug, one count of possession of equipment to administer and two counts of possession.

But the most serious charges are four counts of supplying a prohibited drug on an ongoing basis.

It is also alleged Nicholls has supplied 24 pills of ecstasy worth more than $700.

Nicholls had a phone with 30,000 text messages which police confiscated and the charges come as a result of information gleaned from that phone.

Mr Murray was told another seized phone had more than 50,000 text messages with significant evidence of drug supply and further charges were likely to be laid.

There was evidence Nicholls had received significant amounts of money from his drug supplying.

A photo on one phone shows several thousand dollars with comments written on the picture referring to drugs being available.

It is alleged Nicholls took part in supplying ice 114 times between August and November.

Police prosecutor Sgt Andrew Pike opposed bail citing protection of the community and said it was inevitable Nicholls would be jailed if convicted.

Mr Murray said if convicted on the indictable charges of on-going drug supply, Nicholls was likely to spend years in jail.

A police brief of evidence will be prepared by January 30 and Nicholls returns to court on February 9 by video link.