Bodene Lee Robertson sentenced for commercial drug supply

A Mullumbimby drug dealer who supplied an undercover cop cocaine nine times has had his tragic background unveiled in court while being sentenced.

The traumatic past and chaotic life of a Byron drug dealing has been revealed during sentencing in Lismore District Court.

Bodene Lee Robertson, 34, previously pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine in a commercial quantity.

As outlined by Judge Jeffrey McLennan, Robertson was identified by police in December 2020 as being a part of a group involved in the supply of cocaine around Byron Bay and Mullumbimby.

The group allegedly involved Home And Away former star Putu Sugiarta Winchester-Stanton who is yet to enter pleas to his charges of supply.

Judge McLennan said Robertson was contacted by an undercover operative on the app Signal between January 8 and 21 before they met at the Mullumbimby middle pub and arranged an exchange.

Following this Robertson supplied the undercover officer nine times between January 27 and April 22 a total of 532.01g of cocaine ranging from 14 per cent to 41.5 per cent pure.

Amounts ranged between 27.96g – about one ounce – for $9500 and 139.1g for $45,000.

The total amount paid was $174,000 over the nine transactions.

On one date of supply Robertson had attended Byron Bay Local Court and was sentenced for drug possession where he was sentenced to a two year community corrections order.

Prior to his transactions with the undercover officer Robertson had supplied amounts of 1g to 3g at a time.

Defence barrister Ben Cochrane told the court Robertson had begun selling to help pay off a drug debt which had stemmed from an addiction to cocaine.

He said his client had been a victim of a home invasion due to that debt, however his troubles started much younger growing up with heroin addicted parents.

Mr Cochrane said Robertson had witnessed his father injecting heroin in a car at a young age, before Robertson began selling cannabis and fireworks at primary school.

Former Home And Away star Putu Winchester-Stanton, is alleged to also be involved in cocaine supply around Byron Bay.

He told the court Robertson was kicked by a horse aged 3, was in a serious car accident at 17 where he fractured part of his spine before taking care of his dying mother in 2012.

However he outlined Robertson had been able to gain employment for extended periods of time.

Judge McLennan acknowledged Robertson had one of the worst backgrounds he’d seen in a long time, but said sentencing was not an act of “feeling sorry” for people.

He noted that supplying cocaine was a prominent issue in the Northern Rivers, particularly around Byron Bay and associated areas.

“The message of general deterrence needs to be broadcast to the community in the Northern Rivers,” Judge McLennan said.

A finding of special circumstances was made due to a multitude of lockdowns Robertson had experienced while in custody on remand.

He was sentenced to a total of six years imprisonment, three years and six months non-parole backdated to April 22, 2021.