Clayton Couley: Dubbo Macquarie Raiders first grader caught with knives and meth

The strain of playing and coaching rugby league, as well as working as a concreter, led to a young man use meth as a “coping mechanism”, a court has heard.

Clayton Couley appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.

A Dubbo Macquarie Raiders first grade player travelling between concreting jobs was stopped by police and found with meth and hunting knives in his car, a court has heard.

Clayton Couley, 23, appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to drug possession and custody of knife in public place.

According to agreed facts tendered to court, Couley was spotted by police on the evening of May 20 at Nevertire, heading towards Nyngan, when police pulled him over as they had difficulty reading the car’s registration.

After police checks and noticing Couley’s demeanour, officers informed the 23-year-old they were going to search him and his vehicle.

During the search, police found a “small plastic resealable bag of white crystalline substance”, later revealed to be .5 grams of meth.

Clayton Couley was sentenced in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.

Couley made admissions to police saying he believed the substance was “methamphetamine” and he had planned on using the drug the next morning before driving back to Dubbo.

Police later found “two large hunting knives” and questioned Couley about the items.

“[Couley] stated that he used one of the knives for work as a concreter,” agreed facts state.

“[He] told police that he had previously been told by police to keep these items in locked toolboxes and he had forgotten they were there.”

On Wednesday, Couley’s lawyer Louis Gasparinatos said his client had completed the MERIT program and as a result has “excellent prospects of rehabilitation”.

He told the court the offending fell towards the low end of objective seriousness as he appealed to Magistrate Gary Wilson for a “substantial fine … noting he received a fine on [the] last occasion” – last February.

Mr Gasparinatos said Couley was travelling between Walgett and Nyngan and he “forgot to return [the knives] to the box”.

“I submit this was a careless oversight rather than an intentional disregard for the law,” Mr Gasparinatos said.

He highlighted his client’s willingness to engage with police, making full admissions, later revealing Couley “doesn’t wish to excuse his behaviour”.

The court heard Couley was under “enormous physical strain” from working as well as coaching and playing rugby league, resulting in the 23-year-old turning to meth as a “coping mechanism”.

In Couley engaging with the MERIT program, Mr Gasparinatos said he had found “better coping mechanisms and ways to manage his stress”.

Magistrate Wilson was pleased with the “positive inroads” made by Couley with his relationship with drugs, noting the MERIT report “speaks well of you”.

However, he took issue with Couley’s excuse for having the knives.

“If you’re cutting plastic, I don’t understand why you need [the knives] … why can’t you just use a Stanley knife … I don’t accept the explanation,” Magistrate Wilson said.

Couley was ultimately convicted for both charges and fined $600.