Jackson Theo Turner faces Lismore court cocaine possession charges

A Northern Rivers man started using drugs after moving to the region, a Lismore Court was told.

Jackson Turner faced Lismore Local Court on Monday for cocaine possession. Picture: Facebook

A Tweed man who used drugs as an escape when he moved to the Northern Rivers has been dealt a harsh “wake-up call”.

Pottsville resident Jackson Theo Turner, 20, faced Lismore Local Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited drug, namely cocaine.

Magistrate Jeff Linden said police found a significant amount of cocaine when Turner was stopped by police on Terania St, North Lismore on September 22.

While the P-plater returned a negative blood alcohol reading, a subsequent oral fluid test revealed cocaine in his system.

Police then searched the car and found 8.7g of cocaine inside two small plastic bags.

His solicitor Sophie Dagg told the court Turner turned to drugs after losing his Winton hotel job and moving to the Northern Rivers in July.

The combined job loss and move led to a significant decline in his mental health, she said.

“This offence has been a wake up call for him and he has abstained from all drug use since then,” she said.

Ms Dagg noted there was no issue of commerciality in relation to the cocaine possession.

“It is stipulated there it was for his own personal use,” she said.

“This offence is an aberration of his usually good character.”

Given his lack of prior offending, Magistrate Linden convicted Turner and sentenced him to a Conditional Release Order for 18 months.