Wyee: Michael Nicholls, 41, sentenced for ongoing cocaine supply in Marble Bar drug syndicate

An engineer on $150k a year began cutting down cocaine with creatine and selling it to ‘mates’ to offset the cost of his own addiction, a court has heard.

Michael Nicholls, 41, outside Wyong Local Court where he was sentenced to 20 months jail to be served by way of an intensive correction order after pleading guilty to the ongoing supply of drugs. Picture: NewsLocal

A father-of-three with a high-paying engineering job in Sydney began cutting down cocaine with the common muscle building supplement creatine and sold it to his “mates” to offset the rising cost of his own addiction, a court has heard.

Michael Nicholls, 41, of Wyee, was among a dozen men arrested and charged by police attached to Strike Force Tatiara following an investigation into an alleged drug supply syndicate being run out of the Marble Bar at Erina.

Following initial inquiries by Tuggerah Lakes Police, the investigation was referred to the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad which culminated in a series of raids across the coast on February 13 and 14.

Nicholls was arrested at his Wyee home and charged with 11 counts of supplying drugs and one count of supplying drugs on an ongoing basis.

He faced Wyong Local Court on Wednesday where the 11 supply charges were withdrawn following his plea of guilty to supplying drugs on an ongoing basis.

Nicholls was one of a dozen men arrested as part of raids by Strike Force Tatiara police. Picture: NSW Police

A further two charges of possessing a restricted substance, being the steroid Sustanon and supplying 2g of cocaine, were taken into account when he was sentenced.

An agreed set of facts states the father-of-three was working as an engineer for a Sydney company on almost $150,000 a year when he became addicted to drugs.

Nicholls started cutting down coke to sell to his mates to offset his own addiction. Picture: NewsLocal

Police identified Nicholls via his mobile phone, which he was intercepted organising the supply of cocaine to another man on at least 11 occasions between June and July last year.

When police raided his home, the facts state Nicholls told officers there were “some bags and scales” in a cupboard in his garage, while the four vials of steroids they found under the sink in his ensuite were for “when he used to go to the gym” a few years ago.

After his arrest Nicholls was taken to Wyong Police Station where he participated in a recorded interview, telling officers he had a growing problem with cocaine.

“The accused started to supply his mates with cocaine in an attempt to lower the cost of his own addiction,” the facts state.

“The accused also admitted to using the creatine to mix in with the cocaine to increase the amount.”

Magistrate Robyn Richardson sentenced Nicholls to 20 months jail to be served in the community by way of an intensive correction order.

Nicholls was part of a wider drug syndicate that operated out of the Marble Bar & Grill at Erina. Picture: NewsLocal

She said while the offending was “very serious” Nicholls had demonstrated remorse and a genuine effort to “turn his life around”.

The facts state Nicholls was one of several people identified in connection to a syndicate supplying drugs across the coast.

Police will allege in court this syndicate was a direct offshoot of a larger criminal network operating out of the Marble Bar run by the venue’s co-owners Frederico Salomone, 30, and Daniel Alan Stephenson, 35, both of Terrigal.

Both Mr Salomone and Mr Stephenson were charged with dozens of alleged drug supply offences and remain before the courts. Neither man has entered any pleas.