Harrison White sentenced for supplying cocaine to mate in Cronulla

A mechanical plumber’s job has been put at risk after he was busted trying to sell five bags of cocaine to his mate in Sydney’s south.

Harrison White, 24, pleaded guilty to selling drugs outside Cronulla Sailing Club. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Police busted a tradie trying to sell five bags of cocaine to his mate from his car in a dial-a-dealer transaction in Sydney’s south.

Harrison Edward White, 24, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to selling dugs.

Agreed facts tendered to court said White, who works as a mechanical plumber, came under police notice outside Cronulla Sailing Club on January 19 this year.

Officers were patrolling the area for the sale and use of drugs when they saw a man walk out of the licensed venue using his phone.

He waited for a car before White drove his Toyota HiLux along Tonkin St and the man got into the passenger seat.

White was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court.

White drove to the other end of the cul-de-sac and parked.

Officers watched the men before they saw the passenger lean forward and appear to sniff his hands before he wiped his nose.

The man left the car and walked back to the club before White started to drive away but they were both stopped by police.

Officers found two bags of white powder, weighing 1.2g, on the man and he admitted White had sold it to him.

White was searched and police found bags of cocaine, totalling 2.1g, in his pants before he told officers they would find $500 in the car.

White admitted to selling the bags to his mate and told police he got the drugs from a different friend.

He told officers his mate was supposed to buy all five bags, however only took and paid for two.

White, who lives in Miranda with his parents, was arrested and charged with drug supply, possessing prohibited drugs and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

In court, White’s lawyer noted her client had no criminal history and he made an “unfortunate and regrettable decision to help a friend out”.

The lawyer noted White was employed in a manager role looking after five employees and he worked on government sites which required police checks of criminal convictions.

She asked Magistrate Holly Kemp to avoid convicting White because it would be “catastrophic” for his employment.

The lawyer also noted that White’s mother wrote a letter to the court where she said she “raised him better”.

Ms Kemp said a conviction was required to reflect the seriousness in which the court took drug supply matters and to deter other people from selling drugs for financial gain.

“The sentence must be an adequate punishment and send a message to the community that this behaviour is not tolerated,” she said.

Ms Kemp accepted White’s remorse and that his character references spoke well of him.

White was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order where he must be of good behaviour and pay a $1100 fine.

Originally published as Harrison White sentenced for supplying cocaine to mate in Cronulla