Sam Frost’s boyfriend David Bashford escapes conviction for cocaine possession

The partner of Home And Away actor Sam Frost has escaped with a good behaviour bond without a conviction after being caught with cocaine while trying to avoid a police sniffer dog during a night out in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

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Home And Away star Sam Frost’s boyfriend has escaped a conviction after being busted with cocaine at a Bondi pub.

David George Bashford, 27, arrived at Waverley Local Court dressed in a navy blue suit on Tuesday after police found him with a bag of white powder on March 4 at Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel.

He was sentenced to a one-year good behaviour bond without a conviction after his lawyer Elizabeth Wye told the court he had remorse and insight — in particular into how his actions impacted his partner Frost.

Bashford was supported in court by his parents. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Bashford with former Bachelorette girlfriend Sam Frost. Picture: Instagram

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“You honour has a copy of his letter which expresses his remorse and insight not only into how his actions impacted himself and his future career but also his family and particularly his partner,” Ms Wye said.

She said the media attention the case had attracted created an extra layer of humiliation and embarrassment.

“This is first time he has been before the court, he has an unblemished record and 10 years unblemished service in the navy,” she said.

Bashford was concerned about the impact a conviction would have over his employment, Ms Wye said.

Bashford offered a letter of remorse which said his actions had “impacted his partner”. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“He requires special clearance for the job he holds and the recording of a conviction would impact his further employment,” she said.

“(He is) asking for one further chance to remain conviction free.”

Magistrate Michael Crompton said the offence was not trivial by nature but took into account Bashford’s otherwise good character and his plea of guilty in deciding to put him on the good behaviour bond.

Bashford declined to comment outside court.

Court documents reveal that police were carrying out a covert drug operation in the Bondi area when a drug dog called Ita and uniformed police walked into the hotel Bashford was sitting in about 11pm.

Court documents state Bashford was stopped by police about 11pm. Picture: Facebook

Frost and Bashford were first linked in January 2017. Picture: Instagram

According to police facts when the navy diver saw the officers and drug dog he “immediately stood up and walked at pace away from uniformed police”.

That sparked the attention of plainclothes police inside the hotel who believed his behaviour was “indicative of someone in possession of drugs”.

The officers then stopped Bashford, who placed his hand in his front jeans pocket and “appeared extremely nervous”.

Police requested he move his hand and took hold of his wrist, the court documents state.

“As his hand was pulled out of his pocket the accused dropped a clear resealable bag with white powder on the floor,” police facts say.

Bashford, who lives in Alexandria, was charged with possessing 0.4g of cocaine and pleaded guilty earlier this month.

Court documents say he was extremely remorseful and had made full admissions when police charged him.

Frost wasn’t present at court for the sentencing. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Former reality TV star Frost, 30, who was not mentioned in the court documents, was first linked to Bashford in January 2017.

“I’m in love and it is fun,” Frost said of the relationship to The Daily Telegraph later that year.

“I’ve been trying to keep it relatively quiet because for most of my 20s my love life has been quite public, to say the least. So it’s nice for us just to be in our own little love bubble and keep that for us.”

Frost captured the hearts of the nation as the first Australian Bachelorette but announced her split with her final pick for the rose Sasha Mielczarek 18 months later in December 2016.

Originally published as Sam Frost’s boyfriend David Bashford escapes conviction for cocaine possession