Supply Cocaine - Drug Supply - small quantity - personal use cocaine - section 10 - Downing Centre Local Court - police charges - local court penalties

Published 24 Oct 2011

Case Study –

Criminal Lawyers Sydney and Parramatta Offices

Drug Lawyers Sydney 

Criminal Offence – Criminal Matter – Supply Prohibited Drug – Cocaine – Small Quantity - guilty plea – Local Court penalties – Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act – Section 10 – leniency 

Nyman Gibson Stewart

Criminal Lawyers 

Downing Centre Local Court 

Represented by Solicitor: Philip Stewart, Accredited Specialist Criminal Law 

Facts: Police entered the toilets of a Kings Cross hotel and saw the client handing a small re-sealable bag to another male.  He admitted to police that the bag contained cocaine.  He was charged with supplying cocaine.  The weight was around 0-1 grams including the weight of the bag.  The contents were really the residue or left overs. 

Result: The client pleaded guilty.  Normally people who plead guilty or are found guilty of supplying cocaine or supplying a prohibited drug face severe penalties including the risk of imprisonment. 

In this case, there was no financial gain. Our client had no prior criminal record and was of otherwise good character.  He did not have a drug habit. The weight of the drug was very low and the act of supply in this case was to a friend – in effect sharing the drug – but still being supply, as defined by legislation. 

The Magistrate found the offence proved but did not proceed to conviction pursuant to section 10 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act.