A Ballarat man who was busted with more than 13 times the traffickable amount of methylamphetamine has been sentenced to prison. Matthew Piscopo, 39, was jailed for five years and four months at the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday. The father-of-eight appeared via a video link from prison for the sentencing hearing. During a search on May 28 last year, police found more than 60 grams of ice, six firearms and stolen power tools at a Canadian property, where Piscopo lived with his girlfriend. They found 6.5 grams of methylamphetamine in the bedroom, 55.8 grams of methylamphetamine and $5000 cash in the roof cavity and a bottle of liquid amphetamine, totalling 62.3 grams. Judge Frances Hogan said the purity of the quantity of methylamphetamine was only just under a commercial quantity, which is 50 grams. "Although it is likely that, given your history of drug abuse, you would have used some portion of the overall amount for personal use. "The quantity involved puts this charge towards the more serious end of trafficking simpliciter," Judge Hogan told Piscopo. "As I have mentioned, a traffickable quantity of methylamphetamine is three grams, thus you had almost 13 times the traffickable amount in your possession. "I do not accept, as you told the police, that you had only ever supplied methylamphetamine to a friend as a favour. "The large quantity of empty press seal bags and the scales found in the spare room with a bottle containing liquid amphetamine suggest more than merely a charitable gesture to a friend, although I hasten to add that there is no evidence of actual transactions by you." The judge said it was concerning Piscopo had eight prior convictions for trafficking various drugs in 2015, 2016 and 2018. "Not only those who develop a dependence upon it and who suffer ruined lives, but also the contribution that such addiction makes to our crime rate and to the burden it places on law and enforcement officers, the health system, the court system and the prison system," Judge Hogan said. "In sentencing for this offence the court must denounce your conduct and place emphasis on both general and specific deterrence, community protection and just punishment." During the search of Piscopo's home, police found six firearms, which is a traffickable amount, and three of those had been stolen. There was a stolen modified and loaded shotgun in the roof of the garage and a stolen air rifle and plastic container buried in the backyard containing a homemade pistol loaded with ammunition and ready for discharge. There were two rifles, one which had been stolen and dismantled, and another firearm which had the serial number removed. Piscopo was prohibited from possessing firearms at the time. Judge Hogan said it was an aggravating factor two loaded firearms were found and she did not accept Piscopo required all six guns for protection following a number of assaults. In Piscopo's garage and shed, police located 10 power tools which had been stolen from the back of a ute while a bag of ammunition was found in his bedroom. There was a large quantity of tools in Piscopo's back shed and a Suzuki motorcycle in the backyard. The court was previously told Piscopo had long standing difficulties with drug use, mixed anxiety and depression, and a poly-substance abuse disorder. Judge Hogan said Piscopo's prison sentence would be the longest he had served to date. He will be eligible to apply for parole in two years and four months. Piscopo pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms and other charges last month. If he did not plead guilty, he would have been jailed for seven years and four months with a non-parole period of five years, according to the judge. If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.