Michael Hawcroft: Convicted drug dealer from Canberra faces Taree court over Forster home invasion, assault

A former “bling twin” drug dealer who spent years in jail after flooding the Newcastle party scene with ecstasy is back behind bars after storming a former prison mate’s Mid-North Coast home.

Forster Police Station

A former “bling twin” drug dealer who spent several years in jail after flooding the Newcastle party scene with ecstasy is back behind bars after hunting down a former prison mate and storming his Mid-North Coast home.

Michael Hawcroft was caught during one of the largest police drug operations in Newcastle history.

More than 20 people were prosecuted over the supply of nearly 30,000 pills to revellers in the three months leading up to the Christmas period in 2009.

Hawcroft and another convicted drug dealer, Kyle Shepherd, were once known as the ‘Bling Twins’. The pair were photographed by the media living it up at the then-Fannys nightclub, decked out in gold jewellery and tattoos.

Michael Hawcroft is in hot water again, after being convicted of large-scale drug dealing. Picture: Facebook.

For his part in the operation, Hawcroft was sentenced to 12 years jail with a seven-year non-parole period, ending on June 26, 2021.

During the court process many linked to the drug syndicate did not seem to realise the gravity of their offending. Several openly wept as they heard they faced a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Judge Paul Lakatos said at the time of sentencing in the District Court it was remarkable ‘‘intelligent young people’’ did not know they could face jail-time for sourcing and selling the party drug, even when trafficking was among friends.

‘‘I find it remarkable that people can supply drugs and think that it’s not a serious business,’’ he said.

Hawcroft was convicted of selling the illicit drug ecstasy. File.

‘‘I think we desperately need an education blitz so they understand that they are facing a jail term.’’

Hawcroft has now been remanded in custody in relation to an incident at Forster on the Mid-North Coast on March 3 last year.

He appeared over audiovisual link before Magistrate Brennan in Taree Local Court.

Hawcroft pleaded guilty to one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and aggravated break-and-enter of a property while knowing people were inside at the time.

Four charges were withdrawn, including reckless wounding and other forms of aggravated break-and-enter.

Forster Police Station with the courthouse and the lake behind.

Additional charges of stalking and intimidation will be considered when Hawcroft is up for sentencing, the court heard.

Hawcroft, who was living in the Canberra suburb of Belconnen, rented a blue Mitsubishi and drove to Forster, arriving at a Leguna Crescent, Forster home about 6.30am on March 3.

A man and his female partner were asleep when Hawcroft entered the home wielding a baton, police state in court documents.

The woman started shouting and Hawcroft threatened her: “Shut up – otherwise I’m going to slit your throat too”.

Hawcroft ushered the man outside and he was then seen running down the street dripping blood, prompting a neighbour to phone police.

The victim suffered a laceration to his neck and bruising to an elbow.

Police interviewed the man and he told them he knew Hawcroft from prison.

But the victim refused to make a formal statement or provide police with more information, the documents state.

Police were able to track Hawcroft down using CCTV footage from Leguna Crescent.

He had a “distinctive build and facial hair” and was “wearing similar clothing to when he returned the rental car” in Canberra on March 15.

The case has been referred to Taree District Court for sentencing on June 11.