Luke Read: University of Sydney student sentenced after drug bust at John Wearn Reserve
An “ashamed” Sydney University student and footy referee busted with MDMA at a park says he was stressed about being in lockdown because of coronavirus and a diabetes diagnosis.
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Sydney University student and volunteer football referee Luke Read, who was busted with cannabis and MDMA at a Carlingford park because he was stressed about a diabetes diagnosis and the coronavirus lockdown, has faced court for sentencing.
Read, 21, fronted Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday, when he pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a prohibited drug at John Wearn Reserve on April 18, when he was caught with four friends in a carpark off Balaka Drive just after midnight.
The Linfield resident was in the back seat and police uncovered cannabis and drug paraphernalia belonging to other car occupants before they searched a Holden Astra parked next to it and uncovered 2.3g of cannabis and three MDMA capsules weighing 0.7g belonging to Read.
The court heard how the Coles worker turned to drugs to tackle stress after being diagnosed with diabetes.
In a letter tendered to the court he expressed his shame and remorse.
“I’m still coming to terms with my lifelong diagnosis of the chronic illness type 1 diabetes,” he said.
He said that was in “combination with lockdown” and enrolling into a new advanced computing degree that “had put me in a position of heightened stress” and had “exacerbated feelings of distress and entrapment that I had never been exposed to before”.
“I am ashamed of my poor judgment that followed, leading to the decision I am wholly responsible for, the purchasing of the illicit drugs MDMA and cannabis for personal use.
“It was an unacceptable and dangerous decision made by ignorance that was very likely to lead to irrevocably impacting on my life and the people around me.
“I have also worked diligently through school and university to achieve the academic position I am in presently at the University of Sydney and have prospects for further overseas work and travel that I fear my actions may have impacted.”
Magistrate Peter Feather warned Read that the long-term effects of taking cannabis could lead to depression and schizophrenia.
“Some people say that cannabis is a safe drug but I don’t agree with that sentiment,” he said, while reading him of the deadly potential of MDMA.
“You play Russian roulette with your life when you take MDMA.
“It’s a difficult time but don’t turn to drugs to deal with your issues.
‘If you want to work in Silicon Valley, if you work in the United States you won’t get a Green Card.”
Mr Feather took into account it was Read’s first offence and did not record a conviction. He was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order (good behaviour bond).