Sam Mison: Coogee man sentenced for cocaine possession

An “accomplished” footballer has been asked by an magistrate when he will “stop behaving like a fool” after being caught with three bags of cocaine in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Sam Mackenzie Mison appeared in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.

An “accomplished” footballer with hopes of getting a job in a West Australian mine has narrowly avoided a conviction after he was caught in Bondi with “three bags” of cocaine, a court has heard.

Coogee’s Sam Mackenzie Mison, 21, fronted Waverley Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to drug possession.

According to agreed facts, police were patrolling Hotel Ravesis and surrounding streets about 5.30pm on December 9, when they spotted Mison entering a silver Hyundai on Jacques Ave.

Mison exited the car a short time later with police believing a “drug transaction” took place.

When stopping Mison, a small resealable bag of cocaine was seen in his left hand which he then gave to police.

Waverley Court House. Picture by Damian Shaw

He was subsequently arrested, making admissions to purchasing “what he believed to be three bags of cocaine” for $750 and later weighed at 2.7g.

On Tuesday, Mison’s lawyer Mr Cameron said his client was an “accomplished footballer” with references speaking of his “good character”, despite revealing the 21-year-old’s past where he received a “few fines for shoplifting”.

Mr Cameron told the court Mison has moved to Perth and is currently on the lookout for a job working in the mines.

“It’s my submission … he appreciates coming before the court is stressful [and he] understands the nature of his offending,” he said.

He ultimately appealed for a non conviction, explaining how it could “affect his job prospects”.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge took issue with the request, saying she was “fed up” with the courts not properly dealing with drug charges.

Police found Mison in possession of 2.7g of cocaine near Bondi Beach.

“The days of non convictions have to be over … he’s not a first offender … he’s out there stealing [and] getting infringement notices,” she said.

“How can a non conviction be justified … he’s not of good character.”

Magistrate Milledge went one step further, telling Mison he “ought to be ashamed of himself”.

“You’re out there thieving and you’ve been dealt with leniently,” she continued. “You’ve suddenly realised your life was going down the toilet because you weren’t smart enough … not smart enough to understand that your actions have a consequence.

“What is it going to take for you to stop behaving like a fool?”

Magistrate Milledge decided against convicting the 21-year-old, placing him on a two-year conditional release order.