Cronulla man Jack Rogers pleads guilty to cocaine possession

A Sydney magistrate has reminded a man who attempted to indulge in some birthday coke that the law applies 365 days a year. The teen told police the cocaine they found in his wallet was to celebrate his 18th birthday.

Cronulla teen Jack Rogers, 18, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine after a drug dog busted him on his birthday at Gymea Hotel. Picture: Eliza Barr

• Father and son charged with groping teen
• Driver ‘disqualified’ before fatal crash

A Sydney magistrate has reminded a man who attempted to indulge in some birthday coke that the law applies 365 days a year.

It was the day of Jack Rogers’ 18th birthday when drug dog Buster trotted into the Gymea Hotel beer garden and caught the Cronulla man’s attention on April 5.

NSW Police Force drug dog Buster. Picture: NSW Police Force

“Police observed the accused to look in the direction of drug dog Buster and immediately remove something from his pocket and place it over a railing,” the agreed police facts stated.

“Police moved to the location of the accused and noted the item to be a small wallet.”

Rogers said he was planning to celebrate his birthday in the city. Picture: Facebook

Rogers pleaded guilty at Sutherland Local Court to possessing 0.78g of cocaine tucked inside his wallet and Magistrate Peter Bugden sentenced him to a conditional release order without conviction.

“Police said - what have you got that for, and you said, it’s my birthday,” Mr Bugden told Rogers.

“The legislation works 365 days a year - you don’t get a day off for your birthday.”

Rogers represented himself in court and described the incident as a really big mistake.

“I thought I’d do it for a bit of fun,” Rogers told the court.

Rogers escaped conviction at Sutherland Local Court.

Mr Bugden reminded Rogers the consequences of a conviction if he offended again would be serious.

“With a drug conviction you can’t travel to the United States, you can’t travel to Japan,” Mr Bugden said.

“All of the people at the back of the court know you have done this before, you knew where to get it and how it works.”

Rogers told police he had bought the bag for $250 from a mate.