Gregory Hills man Rhys Lovett pleads guilty to cocaine supply

A drug dealer used Snapchat to organise drops with his buyers on New Year’s Eve, coordinating deals across Sydney’s southwest. But, a random breath test brought his illegal enterprise down.

Rhys Edward Lovett.

A cocaine dealer who used Snapchat to communicate with his buyers was caught after police pulled him over for a random breath test.

Rhys Edward Lovett, 22, fronted Picton Local Court on Wednesday for a bail review after previously pleading guilty to drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of a crime.

At 10pm on New Year’s Eve, police pulled Lovett over for a random breath test on Richardson Rd, Spring Farm.

He told officers he was on his way to visit a friend and said he lived on a “random street”, but was unsure of where the street was.

According to the court documents, the police searched Lovett’s car due to “the time of day, location, unlikely story”, and his demeanour.

Picton Courthouse.

Lovett admitted, “I’ll be honest, there is sh*t in my car” and told them it was a “bit of coke”.

Police found drugs on the driver’s side door, in the glove box and under the steering wheel, and $620 in cash.

The drugs were weighed at the police station, and one bag containing five clear resealable bags of white powdery substance came to 7.11g, and another bag came to 7.39 g. A package with two bags weighed 4.24g.

Officers found Snapchat conversations with messages to Lovett stating, “Drop off cuz. After 2. Erskine Park”, with Lovett replying, “65 for 2 out there my bro”, and “honest ashcays”, meaning “honest cash”.

In a second conversation, Lovett received a message saying, “after 2 if you have any and have a chance”.

In a letter to the court, Lovett apologised for his actions and acknowledged his decisions had hurt the people around him.

“Since this incident, I have attended Merit Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment Program, and I have come to understand the impact upon the community of my decisions and the danger to which I exposed myself and others,” he wrote. “They taught me the importance of keeping drug-free and a better way of thinking.

“Your honour, I see this as a second chance to change my actions and turn my life around and make my family proud.”

At court on Wednesday, Lovett’s bail was varied to allow him to attend a family member’s funeral. He is due to be sentenced next month.