Angus Rose sentenced for cocaine possession

A former boarder at a prestigious private all-boys school in Sydney has avoided a criminal conviction after he was caught with cocaine at a country race day.

Angus Rose outside Downing Centre Court on March 1, 2023.

A former boarding school student who attended one of Sydney’s most prestigious all-boys schools avoided a conviction after a court heard of the “anti-social” and “embarrassing” act which saw him arrested at the country races.

Angus Rose, 21, of Point Piper, pleaded guilty to drug possession at Sydney Downing Centre on Wednesday.

According to police documents tendered to court about 4.30pm on December 17 police conducting proactive patrols at Moree Races saw Rose leave a toilet cubicle wiping his nose.

When questioned, Rose – who hails from Rylstone in the state’s central west – admitted he had cocaine on him.

A small resealable bag with the drug was found in his wallet and police facts state he made a “full admission” he paid $200 for cocaine for his personal use.

The drugs weighed 0.8g including packaging, the facts state.

Rose pictured leaving Sydney Downing Centre.

Rose’s lawyer Mickaela Mate told the court her client made “full and frank admissions to police immediately” when apprehended.

The court heard Rose’s friends did not approve of drug taking and considered his actions “anti-social, stupid and embarrassing”.

Angus Rose.

The court heard Rose, who had spent the past two years working on a major cattle station in far north Queensland, had faced a number of stressful incidents in recent months, including the death of a grandparent, a parent’s mental health challenges, and financial strain from a family business.

The court also heard Rose recently suffered second degree burns in a petrol explosion at the cattle station which saw him receive hospital treatment.

Magistrate Clare Farnan acknowledged the young man was discovered with a “very small” quantity of cocaine and was a “very young man”.

However the magistrate pointed to the growing prevalence of cocaine use among young people and raised particular concern that the drug’s use was growing in regional areas such as Moree.

“For it to have come from that community is very concerning,” Ms Farnan said.

“I urge you to think about the consequences of your actions and the support you’re providing for an evil industry.”

She said she considered the young man’s remorse “very genuine”.

“I note what you say, that you’re from a friendship group that looks down on people do drugs – you need to understand that unfortunately, if people like you continue to do drugs,, they become like the people you look down on.”

Ms Farnan found Rose guilty and sentenced him to a six-month conditional release order without conviction under the conditions he did not commit further crimes and returned to court if called to do so.