Cocaine, meth, MDMA: Young drug offenders of the Sunshine Coast in court
From drug-fuelled dangerous driving to music festival cocaine smugglers, here are some of the Sunshine Coast youngsters wrapped up with drugs.
Sunshine Coast
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Every week, a lineup of youthful Sunshine Coast residents face the region’s courts for crimes involving drugs.
With 3333 drug-related offences recorded in 2021 across the Sunshine Coast, police have their hands full when it comes to those opting for the “high” life.
Noosa CIB Detective Sergeant Tim Burns said officers were focused on ways to track down and arrest drug offenders in the region.
“Police will continue to focus their efforts on powdered drugs like meth or ice, and particularly those who are dealing and trafficking,” Sergeant Burns said.
From drug-fuelled dangerous driving to music festival cocaine smugglers, these are some of the 20-somethings that have found themselves wrapped up with drugs.
Convictions recorded:
Jordan Andrew Midolo
A 24-year-old Beerwah tradie had guns pulled on him by police after he crashed into their car while driving drunk and on MDMA, a court heard.
Jordan Andrew Midolo had been partying at a New Year’s Eve event in Beerwah in 2021 when he decided to head out to pick up some more party supplies.
Police prosecutor Stu Lydford said the tradie had been driving along Roberts Rd when he saw police perform a U-turn behind him.
Caloundra Magistrates Court heard Midolo panicked at the sight of police and veered off into a ditch and became bogged.
The 24-year-old tried to drive out of the predicament before he revved his car and crashed into the police vehicle in front of him.
Defence lawyer Bree-Anna Bowtell said police drew their guns on the shocked Midolo which prompted the tradie to throw his hands in the air before he was arrested.
A small amount of MDMA and cocaine was found on Midolo following the incident.
Midolo had taken MDMA during the evening, the court heard.
Midolo pleaded guilty to possessing MDMA, cocaine, scales, drink driving and dangerous operation of a vehicle.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, disqualified from driving for nine months and was fined $500.
Midolo was ordered to pay $491.14 compensation. A conviction was only recorded for the drink driving offence.
Russell Phillip Witheridge
A Doonan personal trainer and Muay Thai boxing champion was found with white powder in his wallet that was later identified as cocaine.
Russell Phillip Witheridge, 34, had previously been convicted of trafficking in 2013 and pleaded guilty to the latest possession charge in Noosa Magistrates Court.
The court heard he had 4.2g of white powder that contained 1.5g of pure cocaine.
Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said Witheridge must have a “dodgy dealer” but that the lesser purity of the powder had worked in his favour.
Solicitor Chelsea Emery said her client had worked in the fitness industry and was the Muay Thai boxing titleholder for Queensland.
According to Witheridge’s social media, he also ran a fight centre by the name of Hustle Fight Centre that had to close in 2021 due to his health complications.
Magistrate McLaughlin sentenced Witheridge to six months’ prison suspended for two years. Convictions were recorded.
Laurenzo Junior Suzuata
A Maroochy River factory worker had been told by police most of the cocaine he found in an Ocean St nightclub contained only a fraction of actual drugs.
Laurenzo Junior Suzuata, 22, had been found with 4.9g of white powder after police raided his Maroochy River home on May 25, 2021.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard Suzuata had told police he had found the drugs in a disabled toilet at the Duporth Tavern.
Police prosecutor David Bradley said it was uncommon for people to throw drugs away but said the substance in question was “not good drugs”.
Senior Sergeant Bradley said the bag only contained 7.6 per cent pure cocaine, amounting to a mere 0.34g.
The court heard Suzuata had previously been charged with possessing cocaine over schedule three quantity which was amended to a simple possession charge.
Senior sergeant Bradley said Suzuata was “moving in the wrong circles” and had a “checkered” history on his record.
Duty lawyer Liesel Rogan said the former tradie and factory worker had no history of drug offending and was only found with less than half a gram of drugs.
Suzuata pleaded guilty to possessing drugs and was fined $750. A conviction was recorded.
No convictions recorded:
Angela Lisa Lewis
Angela Lisa Lewis’ night went downhill when sniffer dogs found drugs on her at a Coolum music festival on February 12, 2022.
Police prosecutor Rebecca Lambert told Maroochydore Magistrates Court the 26-year-old had banked her drug stash in a creative location.
“She had four MDMA capsules secreted inside herself,” Senior Constable Lambert said.
Constable Lambert said the Alexandra Headland woman wasn’t the only partygoer to use the technique.
Lewis pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing dangerous drugs.
She was handed a $400 good behaviour bond for six months and ordered to complete a drug diversion course.
Convictions were not recorded.
Kyle William Lloyd
Kyle William Lloyd, 20, came clean about having less than 1g of cocaine when police escorted him to a private search room at a Coolum music festival on February 12, 2022.
“He confirmed he had some cocaine inserted inside himself,” Constable Lambert said.
Magistrate Rod Madsen asked if it was too embarrassing to tell the court where the drugs were found.
“It was not in his mouth your honour,” Duty lawyer Michael Robinson replied.
Lloyd pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing dangerous drugs.
Lloyd received a $500 good behaviour order and was ordered to complete a drug diversion course.
Convictions were not recorded.
Dylan Finlay Mckelvie Davis
Dylan Finlay Mckelvie Davis pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs after a bag of meth was found in his underwear at a Coolum festival.
Police dogs dobbed Mckelvie into officers at 2.15pm before a search was done.
“During the pat-down search police located a clip seal bag of meth in his underwear,” police prosecutor Rebecca Lambert said.
The court heard the 21-year-old had no history and cooperated with police.
Duty lawyer Michael Robinson said a drug diversion course was appropriate.
Magistrate Rod Madsen imposed a $400 good behaviour bond and ordered him to complete a drug diversion class.
Convictions were not recorded.
Tomas Mitchell Croft
An “idiotic” P-plater was urged to grow up after his potentially deadly driving led police to his stash of cocaine.
Tomas Mitchell Croft was fined a total of $1000 in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 after he pleaded guilty to three offences including dangerous operation of a vehicle and possessing dangerous drugs.
Police prosecutor Mark Burrell told the court police were driving on the Sunshine Mwy towards Mountain Creek when they spotted Croft tailgating a car while travelling at high speed down an on-ramp at 6.15pm.
Senior Constable Burrell said Croft erratically cut across a painted traffic island and lanes before speeding down the motorway.
Police had turned their lights and sirens on when Croft cut across the left lane and darted up the Kawana Way off-ramp.
The 21-year-old, who said he was on his way to football training, failed to give way when entering a roundabout at high speed and didn’t indicate before pulling over down Broadwater Ave.
When speaking to police Croft said he had a 1g (approximate) bag and another used bag of cocaine in his car.
No convictions were recorded.
Nicholas Anthony Price
Nicholas Anthony Price landed himself in hot water by stowing away MDMA while enjoying a music festival.
Constable Rebecca Lambert said the 22-year-old was searched after police dogs exposed his secret stash.
She said the Mount Coolum man was extremely cooperative and was the first defendant to arrive at court.
He pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and was placed on a $400 good behaviour bond.
He will also attend a drug diversion course.
Convictions were not recorded.
Zack Anthony Donaldson
An aspiring Kuluin rapper who was busted with MDMA and meth claimed he was using a taser and knife as props in a gangster themed music video.
Zack Anthony Donaldson, 21, was placed on a nine-month probation order and avoided a criminal conviction after he pleaded guilty to 10 charges including two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count of possessing a weapon.
The Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard the poet and songwriter, who streams his music on YouTube, Spotify and SoundCloud was filming a music video when he was pulled over by police and found with weapons, 0.612g of MDMA and 0.33g of meth on August 7, 2021.
Donaldson was also sentenced for drug driving on July 5, 2021 and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used.
Magistrate Maxine Baldwin urged Donaldson to move on from “dabbling in the drug scene”.
He was also disqualified from driving for three months and fined $380.
No convictions were recorded.
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