Archie Livingstone pleads guilty to supplying creatine, advertised as cocaine

Two men have suffered buyer’s remorse after they were deceptively sold an exercise supplement, disguised as cocaine, in a Sunshine Coast party precinct by a teenage linemarker.

Archie Livingstone leaving Maroochydore District Court on Monday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Castaways Beach line marker has been foiled in his attempt to sell cocaine in a Sunshine Coast party precinct after his customers discovered they were actually sold creatine.

Archie Livingstone was in need of funds when he hatched the scheme to sell one gram of an exercise supplement, disguised as cocaine, to two men on Ocean St for hundreds of dollars.

The 19-year-old’s failed drug deal was outlined in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday after he pleaded guilty to four charges including two counts of supplying a dangerous drug.

Legal officer Liam Dennis told the court Livingstone’s Castaways Beach home was raided by police on December 20 last year, where creatine powder, plastic bags, scales and a mobile phone were seized.

Mr Dennis said the Castaways Beach man gave up the code to his phone, where police found messages relating to the drug deals from the week prior.

Archie Livingstone leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The court heard Livingstone used Instagram to sell one gram of cocaine to two people, offering it up for $300 each.

The legal officer said the teenager told one of his customers he had “some sorted” if he wanted any, and told the other he “had a bag” of cocaine to sell.

Livingstone told officers he went to Ocean St at Maroochydore on December 15 where he falsely sold the creatine to the two men, but told them it was cocaine.

He said he needed the money to pay bills and to get his tooth fixed.

Mr Dennis said it was accepted Livingstone didn’t intend to supply actual cocaine, with there being no risk of drugs circulating on the streets, but said the offer was regarded as “genuine” by the customers.

Livingstone (left) with his lawyer Bernard Bradley (right) outside court. Picture: Patrick Woods

Defence lawyer Bernard Bradley said he was instructed the two customers quickly found out within minutes of the “fraud” and found Livingstone only minutes later, who refunded them their money.

Mr Bradley said the customers would have been using “surplus” income as they were not buying “necessities”. He tendered two references to the court that spoke of Livingstone’s good character.

Judge Glen Cash accepted the Castaways Beach man was young and had not been in trouble with the law before but plainly said it was a “pretty stupid mistake” and accepted it was a “one off”.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ probation with no conviction recorded.