Powder Keg: Richard Buttrose tells of his drug dealing exploits with the rich and famous

Convicted drug dealer Richard Buttrose has spoken out about the famous clientele he supplied cocaine to – including sport stars, actors and models.

Convicted drug dealer and one-time socialite Richard Buttrose has detailed how he went from cocaine user to supplying the drug to high-flying executives, famous models, actors and sport stars, including members of the Australian cricket, rugby league and union teams.

The 46-year-old has turned his life around after spending nine years in jail and spoke to Powder Keg about the pitfalls of the addictive and wildly popular drug.

Former cocaine dealer Richard Buttrose. Picture: Toby Zerna

“I think it’s a slippery slope for a lot of people in Sydney, certainly in the eastern suburbs,” Buttrose, the nephew of media legend and ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose, said.

“I never intended to be a criminal. I never intended to have this large criminal enterprise. I was in the party scene using drugs.

“So supplying one gram turns into three grams and before you know it I was at the centre of this large-scale distribution operation.”

He has spoken for the first time about his famous “black book’’ of clients, without naming names.

“It was executives from big banks, famous models, famous TV stars, sports stars, members of the Australian cricket team, members of the Australian rugby league team, members of the Australian rugby union team.”

He said politicians also featured among his clientele.

“Whatever your interest is, there would be a cohort using party drugs … you see (people) from Home And Away to rugby league being caught using party drugs,’’ Buttrose said. “I never thought about the consequences of my own drug use and I didn’t think about the consequences of supplying cocaine to anybody.”

Buttrose pleaded guilty to supply and was sentenced to 16 years jail in 2010, which even those involved in arresting him said was severe and unjust.

Powder Keg is a joint Daily Telegraph and Sky News investigation.

“Getting arrested was the greatest thing that ever happened to me … it was a slap in the face,” Buttrose said.

“Then in prison you see the ravages of drugs where people’s lives are destroyed, the serious crimes they commit as a consequence of their drug use and their health impacts. Guys whose hair and teeth have fallen out.”

Now “completely removed” from the drug scene, Buttrose recalls being surprised at the public outcry when those in positions of power or public service were caught using cocaine.

“You would see some guys in the military get caught using drugs, there (was) outrage and shock. They are just members of the community, why wouldn’t you expect members of the armed forces doing what other members of the community are doing?” he said.

In prison, Buttrose completed two university degrees and is now studying law and hopes to go on to be qualified so he can help others.

“I started my legal practise, as I call it, in prison seeing people who had literacy problems,” he said.

“Part of being in jail is going to the wing office and getting your mail. I would see guys struggling to read, you know just basic correspondence, and it was never good news. It was DOCS taking kids away from them or charges … I started helping guys.

“The other side of it was my journey through the legal system. It took seven years, I sued the Attorney-General, had multiple appeals all the way to the Supreme Court and through it saw how legislation worked and took an interest in it.

“The justice system is not black and white. It’s very grey, courts have a lot of discretion which means you get a lot of variety in the sentences. I met double murderers who got less than what I got.

“You can literally get anywhere from two years to life for what I did.”

Several retired police officers told Powder Keg they believe Buttrose was made an example of by the court.

ABC boss Ita Buttrose, the aunt of Richard Buttrose, says she is proud of how he has turned his life around. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“He was a rich kid with a famous name and he got punished more for that than the crime,” a former drug squad detective said.

One police officer told him to appeal his sentence and even supplied him with the names of lawyers. Ita Buttrose declared last month, four years after her nephew walked free: “I am very proud of him … he has turned his life around.”

“Richard has a terrific mind and I think he will make a great lawyer,’’ she said. “He has a very sharp mind. A very sharp, legal mind.”