Katie Rides: Former pharmacy worker sentenced for drug possession

An eastern suburbs pharmacy graduate has been lambasted by a magistrate after she was found with drugs inside her body at a Sydney music festival.

Katie Rides pictured outside of Downing Centre Local Court.

A former pharmacy worker from Sydney’s east had secreted cocaine and MDMA inside her vagina before she was stopped by a police drug dog at a music festival, a court has heard.

Katie Rides, 33, appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday on two charges of possessing a prohibited drug, MDMA and cocaine, after being stopped by a drug detection dog at Harbourlife music festival.

The over-18s music event, which mainly features electronic dance music, took place on November 19 and attracted a crowd of about 5750 people – but ultimately Rides was not one of them.

Agreed police facts state Rides was stopped at the main entry at 3:36pm by police after a detection dog indicated the presence of a prohibited drug.

“Police cautioned the accused and asked questions in relation to being in possession of prohibited drugs,” agreed police facts show.

Katie Rides pictured outside of Downing Centre Local Court after being found guilty of drug possession. Picture: Supplied

“When police asked the accused if she had any drugs on her the accused said ‘yep, inside me’ while pointing towards her vagina.”

Police escorted Rides to a private area within the custody area where a strip search was conducted.

“The accused retrieved a condom from her vagina where police observed a clear resealable bag containing white powder inside,” agreed police facts state.

“Furthermore, police observed a small black bag which contained two small green capsules containing MDMA (ecstasy).”

Rides was placed under arrest due to being in possession of the prohibited drugs.

Police weighed the prohibited drugs on a later date, with the cocaine weighing 0.24g and the MDMA tablets weighing 0.4g and the other weighing 0.6g.

Rides was due to fly to America for a new job the day after her appearance in court, where she pleaded guilty to both charges.

In court, Magistrate Brett Thomas told Rides that she was “cutting it fine”.

“Well, I’ll be frank Ms Rides, you’re an idiot,” Mr Thomas said.

“To go to this much trouble to take MDMA and cocaine into a music festival – idiot.

“How does someone with a Bachelor in Pharmacy dabble in MDMA?”

Mr Thomas sentenced Rides to a 12-month conditional release order without proceeding to conviction.