The Snitch: John Ibrahim’s mate Ryan Watsford cops jail sentence
Ryan Watsford has had his eyebrows waxed off by King of the Cross John Ibrahim, been beaten up by Michael Ibrahim for stealing $30,000 cash, and found out a new mate was actually an undercover cop. And now he’s going to prison.
NSW
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Ryan Watsford’s journey over the past three years has been eyebrow raising to say the least — and that’s just what’s played out in the media.
He’s had his eyebrows waxed off by King of the Cross John Ibrahim, been beaten up by Michael Ibrahim for stealing $30,000 cash, and had his heart broken by arresting police who revealed his new mate was actually an undercover cop.
You would think that would be a soul destroying series of events, but we’re getting the impression Watsford is a glass half-full guy.
“Ryan being Ryan, I think he’s just been happy to see his name in the newspaper,” one source said.
The latest chapter of Watsford’s journey was written this week when District Court Judge Dina Yehia sentenced him to a maximum eight years and six months in jail with a
non-parole period of four years.
This was after he pleaded guilty to his involvement in a plot to smuggle 800kg of MDMA and millions of illegal cigarettes into Australia between 2016 and 2017.
The ex-real estate agent also used his industry contacts to find empty houses where more than 580g of cocaine was mailed by a US drug syndicate.
This included a Rose Bay mansion that sold for $16.8 million.
Michael Ibrahim has also pleaded guilty to his role in the operation.
John Ibrahim has not been charged and there’s no suggestion he acted in a criminal manner.
WORK SMART, NOT HARD
As the DPP for more than a decade, Nick Cowdery was responsible for the enormous workload that comes with prosecuting the state’s most serious criminals.
But when Snitch spoke to Mr Cowdery this week he had a confession of his own when we asked him to reveal something about himself we didn’t know.
“I’m essentially a lazy person who takes the easiest course and everything in my life contradicts that proposition,” Mr Cowdery said.
It left us thinking he must have an appetite for punishment, given he was the DPP from 1994 to 2011.
Mr Cowdery said his secret to survival was never bringing his work home with him, and one other saying he liked: “Life is far too important to be taken seriously.”
NOT ON FIRE
You’d think if anyone knew the difference between right and wrong, it would be the son of two police officers. But Blake William Banner has allegedly proved otherwise.
The 19-year-old Rural Fire Service volunteer was charged this week for lighting seven fires in the Bega Valley on the NSW South Coast during the height of NSW’s bushfire crisis.
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He was arrested on Tuesday after police spotted him in his ute moments before a fire mysteriously started nearby next to the Bega River.
Banner, who had only been in the RFS for two years, is no stranger to policing.
His mother is a senior constable based with a local area command on the South Coast, while his father is a sergeant with Traffic and Highway Patrol.
TACTICAL APPOINTMENTS
After much jostling in the ranks, the next round of sought-after police promotions is about to be announced.
Detective Superintendent Paul Pisanos is a strong favourite to take over as the boss of the newly-formed prosecutions command.
He has been relieving as assistant commissioner this year after heading the Tactical Operations Unit.
Organised Crime Squad Detective Superintendent Tony Cook is also tipped to get a tap on the shoulder for a promotion, possibly to lead the youth command.
And the rumour is Scott Whyte could shuffle to State Crime Command as director.
Got a snitch? Contact
Ava.benny-morrison@news.com.au
or Brenden.hills@news.com.au