Byron pair Bodene Robertson, Alyse Cameron in court for cocaine supply

A Byron Bay couple involved in a cocaine syndicate allegedly including a former Home And Away actor have fronted court separately to learn their fate. Here is what happened.

Alyse Rose Cameron and Bodene Lee Robertson have pleaded guilty to cocaine supply charges.

The girlfriend of a Byron Bay cocaine ring supplier was too in love to realise the depths of her illegal involvement, a Lismore court has heard.

Byron Bay resident Alyse Rose Cameron, 34, appeared in court alongside supporters on Friday to face sentencing having pleaded guilty to taking part in the supply of cocaine in an indictable quantity and larceny.

Magistrate Michael Dakin said police became aware of the ring’s alleged supply of cocaine across Byron Bay and Mullumbimby in late 2020 and began intercepting text messages between Cameron and her Eureka partner Bodene Lee Robertson.

He said the charge was related to Cameron’s knowledge of a deal struck concerning 55.8g of cocaine in Mullumbimby and text messages she had written to Robertson concerning the supply.

The text messages included offering suggestions and solutions to Robertson after he received demands for refunds and allegations he “skimmed the top” of orders.

Mr Dakin said at no stage was there evidence Cameron had control over the drugs or engaged in supply.

Defence lawyer Annabel Wurth told the court Cameron had a previous meth addiction that turned to cocaine when she became involved with Robertson.

Since the offending, Cameron hadn’t “touched the stuff” Ms Wurth said, and was completely rehabilitated.

She contended on only one occasion did Cameron sit in a van waiting for Robertson to complete a deal and did not know the other alleged co-accused, including former Home And Away actor Putu Winchester-Stanton.

“Ms Cameron says she is in love with (Robertson) and that’s why she’s probably ended up in this mess,” she said.

“She has a lovely future ahead of her if this is the final summit of bad behaviour.”

The court heard Cameron intended to remain with Robertson.

“She does seem to me to appear to offer more than tacit acknowledgment he was involved in the supply of a prohibited drug,” Magistrate Dakin said.

“It goes beyond merely being the girlfriend of a drug supplier.”

Ms Wurth said the texts were comparable to the “support you would offer someone complaining about their boss”.

“He would ramble and she would just respond,” she said.

The court heard the larceny charge referred to a number of linen items stolen from Elements of Byron who Cameron worked for as a housekeeper that were discovered during a raid of Robertson’s van.

Mr Dakin noted the offending involved cocaine supply 10 times the indictable amount.

He told Cameron is was up to her to “change her life” as he warned her about the dangers of cocaine distribution.

“My understanding is about 50 per cent of the people who use cocaine on a regular basis will develop serious cardiac issues,” he said.

“It goes to show the great deal of harm these drugs can do.

“People who make these drugs … have no concern of the user, their only concern is profit.”

He convicted Cameron on both counts and sentenced her to a 14 month intensive corrections order and a 18-month community corrections order.

She will also have to perform 100 hours of community service.

Meanwhile, her partner Robertson will be sentenced for supplying cocaine in a commercial quantity on April 14 in Lismore District Court.

Robertson, 34, was arraigned on Monday and pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard the offence took place between January 21 and April 22 last year in Mullumbimby.

Police will allege raids across Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Bangalow resulted in the seizure of 340g of cocaine and more than $25,000 cash and other proceeds of crime.

Robertson’s Nashua address was later raided on April 22.

According to documents tendered to court, Robertson used an encrypted app to source and supply the cocaine.

Other co-accused have also had their matters progress.

Dee Why man Clayton Macdonald, 44, pleaded guilty to supply of a prohibited drug and was sentenced to jail for 18 months on December 15, backdated to April 22.

He was eligible for parole that same day.

Byron Shire resident Kirin Desmon Papa, 31, has pleaded not guilty in August to supplying a prohibited drug and will face a Byron Bay Local Court hearing on March 8.

Mullumbimby based Mr Winchester-Stanton, 44, and Bangalow man Zain Papa, 31, are yet to enter formal pleas.