Brenton John McEwan-Stephens blames ‘drug culture’ of Gepps Cross Football club for his crime; club says he has lied to court

EXCLUSIVE: An amateur football league club’s “significant drug-taking culture” caused one of its players to deal ecstasy, a judge has ruled — but the club says the player lied to get a lenient sentence.

Amateur footballer Brenton McEwan-Stephens blamed the “drug culture” of Gepps Cross Football Club for his crimes — a claim the club strongly denies. Source: Facebook.

• Read the judge’s sentencing remarks

AN Adelaide amateur football league club has “a significant drug-taking culture” that is responsible for one of its players dealing ecstasy in nightclubs, a judge says.

In sentencing Gepps Cross player Brenton John McEwan-Stephens, District Court Judge Sophie David said he had escalated from binge drinking to drug use to fit in with his teammates.

The judge’s remarks have drawn angry denials from the SAAFL and the Rams, which on Tuesday accused McEwan-Stephens of throwing the club “under the bus” to avoid prison.

McEwan-Stephens, 23, of Paralowie, faced a maximum 15-year jail term after pleading guilty to trafficking in ecstasy at HQ nightclub in July 2015.

After police found 15 pills in a plastic resealable bag hidden in his underpants, McEwan-Stephens admitted he had ­already sold 35 tablets for $15 each.

In sentencing submissions, barrister Mark Anders said McEwan-Stephens was a talented footballer with aspirations to one day play for Central District in the SANFL.

He asked Judge David to show leniency given his client’s efforts to “extricate” himself from Gepps Cross’s “drug subculture”.

“A large part of the reason for him becoming involved in drug distribution was the culture at this club ... he wanted to ingratiate himself,” he said.

“He thought that by agreeing to some level of distribution, he would be part of this group and found himself ­committing the admitted offending.”

In sentencing, Judge David said personal tragedies had driven McEwan-Stephens to binge-drinking before he took up drugs.

“At 22, you joined Gepps Cross Football Club where there was a significant drug-taking culture,” she said.

“You started using ecstasy to fit in with the other players ... you no longer play football for this club and there is not the same drug culture at Brahma Lodge (where he now plays).”

She said she would have jailed McEwan-Stephens — who had not told his mother about his crime — for four years if not for his guilty plea, youth and contrition.

“There is good reason to suspend your sentence ... importantly, you removed yourself from the drug culture in which your offending took place,” she said.

Judge David suspended McEwan-Stephens’ jail term of two years and 10 months on him entering a $500, 12-month good behaviour bond.

Gepps Cross president Gino Capogreco told The Advertiser he had instructed counsel to seek to have McEwan-Stephens prosecuted for lying to the court.

“There is no culture of drugs at Gepps Cross. We hate drugs and anyone associated with them, and we are going to find a way to show this man has perjured himself,” he said.

“He has thrown Gepps Cross under the bus to defend himself and get a lighter sentence ... he has used the dirtiest of dirty tactics.”

Several AFL and SANFL players spent time at the club, including four-time AFL premiership player Martin Pike and Sydney, Port Adelaide and Brisbane player Adam Heuskes. Shane Tongerie, who played four games with the Adelaide Crows in 1994, also played for the club.

There is no suggestion those players were involved with drugs during their time with Gepps Cross.

On Tuesday, SAAFL chief executive John Kernahan said the league had “zero tolerance” for drugs.

“We are unaware of any culture at the Gepps Cross Football Club that would validate that submission, by the defence, on McEwan-Stephens’ behalf,” he said.

Mr Capogreco, an SAAFL past president, rejected the ­defence submissions and said they were self-serving.

“If he can make that statement, why have the names of other players not been given?” he said.

“It’s because it’s a throw­away line to lessen his sentence ... he has tarnished this club and a lot of hardworking, unpaid volunteers who do it for the love of the game.

“The part that makes me angriest is that, now the judge has said it, how do we prove to the world it’s not true?”

He said the club was in the process of delisting McEwan-Stephens last year when he left voluntarily for Brahma Lodge.

“I found out on Monday that he’s put in a transfer request to come back to Gepps Cross, but we are not having this bloke back,” he said.