Former Home And Away star Putu Winchester-Stanton faces cocaine charges

Fresh raids have brought new material against a former Home And Away actor charged with cocaine supply in the Byron Shire.

Delays over a year in the case of a former Home And Away actor charged with a number of cocaine supply charges have been questioned.

Putu Sugiarta Winchester-Stanton, 45, was mentioned before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday.

Police will allege Mr Winchester-Stanton was among a group arrested over the alleged supply of cocaine following a string of raids across the Byron Shire in April last year.

Police will allege they seized about 340g of cocaine and more than $25,000 in cash after conducting four raids in the Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Bangalow areas.

The court heard on Monday new material had been brought to light in Mr Winchester-Stanton’s case.

Director of Public Prosecutions prosecutor Tess McQuade said the information was alleged financial material and would require further charge negotiation.

The court heard there was nothing else outstanding in the case other than the fresh material.

Putu Winchester Stanton was mentioned in Lismore court on Wednesday.

“The three other members of the strike force have been sentenced so it’s essential this matter be pressed,” Ms McQuade said.

However, magistrate Michael Dakin questioned why the case, which was first brought to Lismore in April last year, had not progressed in almost 17 months.

“There has to be an explanation why this is in the interest of justice for a further adjournment,” he said.

“I’m not a rubber stamp.”

The court heard the two parties would have a further case conference on August 24.

Mr Winchester-Stanton stands charged with one count of supplying a prohibited drug in a commercial quantity, seven counts of supplying an indictable amount of a prohibited drug, one count of knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group and one back up count of possessing a prohibited drug.

Not formal pleas have been entered yet.

His solicitor Daniel Haig attempted to apply to vary Mr Winchester-Stanton’s bail curfew from 9.30pm to 11.30pm but Mr Dakin denied the application due to a lack of evidence from Winchester-Stanton’s surety.

He adjourned the matter for September 14 for case conference mention and or committal in Lismore Local Court.