Jack Kempston: Wellington Cowboys player busted with cocaine, cash
A popular Wellington rugby league player and former private schoolboy has landed in hot water when he was busted by police leaving a house party to score drugs for fellow partygoers.
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A Wellington Cowboys Group 11 player and Amaroo Hotel worker has pleaded guilty to supplying a prohibited drug after police busted him with 2.4 grams of cocaine, $1850 cash and ammunition.
Dubbo man Jack Kempston also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an unauthorised single .22 calibre round of ammunition.
The cocaine, cash and ammunition were discovered on the night of April 4, after police noticed Kempston driving a Holden ute around West Dubbo during the height of COVID-19 restrictions.
The former St Johns College student accelerated harshly when he first came to the attention of police on Baird Drive.
Kempston led officers to Royal Pines Close, where he pulled up and another passenger got out of the vehicle to flee into an adjacent reserve.
According to court documents, Kempston told police he never knew the other passenger and had picked the person up at McDonald’s.
Kempston claimed the other person in the vehicle encouraged him to evade police.
Police said Kempston was softly spoken and avoided eye contact when they quizzed him about his behaviour.
An inspection inside the vehicle uncovered foil in the passenger side foot well and prescription medication in the centre console.
When police searched Kempston, ammunition was found in his right pocket.
Three resealable bags were also found with cocaine in them, along with larger bag with $1850 cash in it.
Supported by his father, Kempston fronted Dubbo Local Court on Friday.
The court heard Kempston was at a house party the night he was caught.
Other attendees had chipped in to score drugs and Kempston was the runner who agreed to take a pool of funds to his upline supplier in exchange for more gear, the court heard.
The ammunition Kempston was found with had come from his grandparents farm, which he attended earlier in the day.
Magistrate Gary Wilson accepted Kempston was a valued member of the Wellington Cowboys rugby league side and contributed positively to the community.
“You’re not the usual person that comes through this court in relation to drugs,” Magistrate Wilson told Kempston.
“Fortunately for you, you’ve got family, solid employment, education and upbringing.”
Magistrate Wilson did issue a conviction to Kempston. Instead Kempston was handed a condition release order, which requires him to be of good behaviour for 12 months.
“If you’re back here again and breach that at all there is no doubt a conviction will be recorded,” Magistrate Wilson said.
The ammunition charge was dismissed.