District Court grants teen drug dealer Dylan Daniel Bradwell bail ahead of sentencing to show he can ‘do the right thing’

His dodgy pills put three children under 15 in hospital, but a judge says a teenage dealer deserves an opportunity to show he can “do the right thing”.

A teenage drug dealer who sold fake Xanax to a child in state care has been given 64 days to prove he can change his criminal ways – and, if successful, he may avoid a prison cell altogether.

On Wednesday, and after several months in custody awaiting sentence, Dylan Daniel Bradwell was released on strict home detention bail by the District Court.

Until April 13, he will live with his father, be GPS tracked at all times, may only leave their home to work and must not have unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 17.

In court, Judge Anthony Allen conceded his approach was “somewhat unusual”, but said it was warranted by Bradwell’s youth, prior good character and “difficult upbringing”.

Fake Xanax pills seized from Dylan Daniel Bradwell. Picture: SA Police

He said he was considering imposing a “Griffith’s Remand” – where an offender’s sentence is deferred for up to 12 months to allow them to demonstrate rehabilitation – upon Bradwell.

“You are being released on very strict bail conditions and, I might say, that this is a somewhat unusual course to take,” he told Bradwell, who appeared in court by video link.

“But the circumstances that I’ve outlined place your case, in my view, into a different category from what could be considered to be the ‘ordinary case’.

“What I’m effectively doing is giving you an opportunity to demonstrate to the court that you can do the right thing.

“It’s very much up to you as to how these proceedings may actually pan out – do I make myself clear?”

Bradwell’s pills were more dangerous and addictive than Xanax. Picture: SA Police

Bradwell, 19, of Elizabeth Vale, pleaded guilty to multiple offences including one count of selling a controlled drug to a child.

He was arrested in May after three teenagers – one just 13 years old – were hospitalised, having overdosed on the highly addictive drug Clonazolam, mislabelled as Xanax.

The 13-year-old was unconscious for five hours – at the time, Child Protection Minister Kathrine Hildyard dubbed the incident “devastating”.

The court subsequently heard Bradwell was in possession of 1473 fake Xanax tablets, packaged in lots of 10 and 20, as well as $2765 cash.

Last month, Bradwell’s counsel told the court he made the “foolish” decision to sell drugs after his work hours were cut due to Covid-19.

On Wednesday, prosecutors told Judge Allen they would be opposed to a Griffith’s Remand for Bradwell, given the severity of the charges.

His counsel, however, stressed he had no prior criminal record, an employer waiting to give him hours and stable accommodation with his father.

Judge Allen released Bradwell on home detention bail to face court again in April, when he will also receive a report about his progress in the community.