Zane Beach: Greenacre personal trainer jailed for drug supply

He’d been set for the NRL before a cruel injury dashed his hopes. Now 30 years old and he is starting a lengthy prison term after becoming involved in a drug syndicate.

On the surface Zane Beach was a successful personal trainer, establishing his seven-year professional career after injury setbacks had ended his hopes of becoming a professional rugby league player.

In reality, the 30-year-old was a trusted participant in a drug syndicate which saw him hand over more than half a kilogram of MDMA to an undercover police officer, in exchange for $23,750 cash.

The Sydney District Court heard Beach, of Greenacre, was the driver of a rented Hyundai hatchback which met an undercover police officer at a planned rendezvous point at Homebush in March 2019.

Travelling in convoy to the designated meet up spot was a second car, a black Mercedes SUV, registered in Beach’s name.

At the location the personal trainer hopped into the undercover police officer’s car and handed over four bags of MDMA, weighing 528g with a purity of 78 per cent, in exchange for the cash. He then stopped off at a Gloria Jeans cafe before returning home, the court heard.

Judge Dina Yehia found there was no evidence Beach had helped plan the supply but accepted he was a trusted participant in the enterprise and took part for an unknown financial reward.

Zane Beach. Picture: Instagram

When a search warrant was executed at his home in February 2020 police located a Cypher encrypted mobile phone, $64,900 cash, digital scales and small quantities of MDMA in his bedroom. Inside the bathroom manhole police discovered 192g of cocaine and 268g of heroin being stored which Judge Yehia ruled, on probability, was for supply purposes.

The court heard the former student at Cronulla’s De La Salle Catholic College had suffered following the sudden death of his father as a teenager with a letter from his brother describing Beach’s arrest as a “heart-shattering event” for the immediate and extended family which had been “profoundly impacted”.

The court also heard Beach was a “gifted” rugby league player, who competed for the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks in the SG Ball (under-18) competition.

However, a significant wrist injury saw his promising career end suddenly.

A character reference from a representative of World Gym Chullora described Beach as “respectful and loyal”, and said he would be offered a full-time role at the gym on his release from prison.

Judge Dina Yehia found the Greenacre man was unlikely to reoffend and had good prospects of rehabilitation.

Beach was convicted of three counts of drug supply, including large commercial supply of MDMA, and dealing with the suspected proceeds of crime and was sentenced to six and a half years jail with a four year non parole period. He will be eligible for release in February 2024.