Ultra Music Festival Parramatta drug arrests face magistrates
Magistrates have sprayed a group of young educated people - among them an American wannabe FBI investigator - caught with illegal drugs at a western Sydney music festival.
Parramatta
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Magistrates have slammed several “intelligent” university-educated people - including an aspiring FBI agent, a nutritionist and a psychologist - who fronted court on Wednesday charged with drug offences at the Ultra Music Dance Festival at Parramatta Park.
The court heard among the more bizarre ways they attempted to smuggle the illicit substances into the festival was one young woman who had four MDMA tablets hidden in a tampon, a man who tried to bring five MDMA tablets into the event hidden under his genitals, and another who had 1.28g of MDMA capsules wrapped in Glad Wrap in his undies.
A total of 26 people were charged with drug offences and 38 were issued drug criminal infringement notices at the March 7 event, held just before social distancing laws were put in place to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
At least two magistrates at Parramatta Local Court gave the young people a spray, saying they shouldn’t choose to consumed the illicit substances without knowing what was in them.
Samantha Messing, 21, who was on holidays in Sydney during the March 7 festival, appeared via video link from New York and was charged with possessing drugs.
Magistrate Robyn Denes told the wannabe FBI investigator, who pleaded guilty to drug possesion, she was bewildered why youth took drugs oblivious to what they contained.
“It beggars belief that young people who are really intelligent continue to buy substances from people they don’t know and consume it,’’ she said.
“This drug, quite frankly, for people with a mental health issue, could trigger a real serious response that you can’t come back from.’’
Messing was issued a community release order for 18 months and will not be convicted if she does not offend during that time.
Magistrate Denes also blasted university student Oscar Liddle, who conceded in court he was stupid to take the drugs.
Liddle’s lawyer told the court his client was remorseful but Ms Denes hit back at the excuse, saying he was only sorry because he got caught.
“He knew on the ticket there was going to be drug dogs,’’ she said.
“We’re not talking about something new that happened suddenly, this was after the lengthy inquest (State Coroner Harriet Grahame examined the deaths of six young people between December 2017 and January 2019 recently) over drugs at music festivals.
“Most people who go to these music festivals, they’re relatively young, have a university degree or are studying for one, and have a position of advantage.
“They think they’re smarter than everybody else, that’s why they keep doing it music festival after music festival.’’
Liddle, 23, conceded he did not think he would get caught.
Magistrate Denes told his lawyer it was ironic Liddle was studying nutrition before asking him: “If you found a tablet on the floor walking through Parramatta would you pick it up and put it in your mouth? The thing about drugs or manufactured synthetic drugs … you don’t even know what you’re putting in your body. So you’re educated, you’re smart … and you’re willing to throw that away for a good time. The drug dealers don’t care about you.’’
He was given a good behaviour bond for 18 months and no conviction was recorded.
Jamisontown carpenter Bailey Dale Thompson, 20, was caught with five ecstasy tablets in a small plastic bag he tried to hid under his genitals.
Court documents said he was seen with bloodshot and gazed eyes and “appeared extremely nervous and his hands were shaking’’.
He was not given a conviction for his first offence.
The court heard Mosman woman Olivia Crvenkovic was also charged with having four ecstasy pills, which court papers said were hidden in a tampon, which she removed privately after a police dog detected the 0.80g package.
“I had no criminal convictions in the past and I do regret my actions,’’ she told Magistrate Tim Keady.
Magistrate Keady told Crvenkovic he dealt with several court cases among young people who tended “to play on their youth”.
“I just wonder about the thought processes that you engaged in.
“You wouldn’t pick up a piece of second-hand chewing gum and yet you’ll digest something with contaminants.’’
The Mosman 28-year-old was handed a 12-month release order without a conviction.
Jake Travis, 19, fronted court after being charged with possessing a gram of Ketamine that he bought from a labourer and hid in a clear resealable bag in his mouth.
“A lot of stupid young people just like you don’t think they’re going to get caught,’’ Ms Denes said.
She accepted Travis, of Hillsdale, was “hard working” and remorseful and gave him a good behaviour bond for 12 months without a conviction.
Italian national Alessandra Nassi, 25, who is on a tourist visa and living on the lower north shore, was charged with taking cocaine which she hid in a small bag in her left sock before a drug dog detected the 0.8g substance as she was entering the festival.
Papers tended to the court said she told police: “I got it for the party for myself, I did take a bit before coming into the party.’’
Magistrate Denes told the court “you have to be living under a rock” to be unaware that cocaine came from Latin American nations such as Colombia.
“You’re buying into the drug trade, the murder of children, child prostitution,’’ she said.
“Think about that next time you want to use it.’’
A conviction was not recorded.
Quakers Hill’s Nicholas Adrian De Michiel, who holds a psychology degree, concealed 1.28g of MDMA capsules wrapped in Glad Wrap in his underwear.
He told Magistrate Keady he was stressed and felt peer pressure to take drugs.
Mr Keady said: “It’s amazing how many people tell the court it’s the first time they have used the substance.
He was given a community release order for 12 months and no conviction was recorded.