Daniel Windsor: Tradie’s cocaine shame as nine bags found in screwdriver
A Sydney electrician has told a court his own cocaine addiction led to his getting involved in drug dealing. He has now been sentenced after nine bags of cocaine were found inside a common tool.
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A tradie has learned his punishment in court after police found nine bags of cocaine hidden inside a screwdriver in Sydney’s east.
Daniel James Windsor, 31, from Zetland, was arrested in April following a police patrol targeting drug supply in Sydney’s east.
A court heard the electrician had turned to selling cocaine to pay for his own cocaine addiction.
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Police spotted Windsor driving a black VW Golf about 5.30pm on April 22. The agreed facts stated he was seen to visit a property in Maroubra, where he stayed for about five minutes, before promptly leaving and checking his surroundings as he got back into his car.
Police were suspicious he was involved in drug supply and stopped him on Bundock St, Randwick.
The agreed facts stated he initially told police he had visited a friend and was off to walk his dog, but later admitted he had one bag of cocaine in his possession which police seized.
Police also searched his vehicle and found a green screwdriver with a detachable bottom containing a further nine bags of cocaine. The weight of the 10 bags was 7.77g.
“In this instance, police believed the accused was acting as a (drug) runner,” the agreed facts stated.
Police also found a mobile phone which constantly received messages related to drug supply, Endone painkiller tablets, and $100 cash suspected of being proceeds of crime.
He fronted Waverley Local Court on Tuesday and was sentenced for supply prohibited drug (cocaine), possess prohibited drug (Endone), and deal with proceeds of crime, having previously pleaded guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Ross Hudson convicted him, fined him $1500, and sentenced him to a community correction order for two years with supervision. He was also ordered to abstain from drugs.
Windsor’s lawyer told the court he was an electrician by trade and had ramped up his drug use last year to deal with problems in his life.
She said Windsor, who was originally from England but had lived in Australia for about a decade, turned to drug dealing to support his own cocaine use.
“His role in engaging in drug supply is that of a runner or driver. In terms of a hierarchy he is certainly near the bottom of the hierarchy,” his lawyer claimed.