Ferntree Gully man Tom Brockley pleads guilty to drug supply after Eden bust
A Victorian labourer holidaying on the NSW far south coast was busted transporting a cache of party drugs after flagging down police to help in his search for fuel.
The South Coast News
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A Victorian tourist travelling to Eden for a skydiving trip was found carrying a cache of illicit party drugs, including DMT and LSD, after flagging down police officers for help finding fuel.
Tom Richard Brockley, 37, of Ferntree Gully, pleaded guilty in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday to several drug charges relating to the incident on May 14.
Solicitor Lisa Stone told the court Brockley and his passenger had travelled up to the NSW far south coast town from their native Victoria on May 14, but were running out of fuel after being unable to locate a service station.
“Brockley flagged down the police to ask if they knew where any fuel was,” Ms Stone said.
Agreed police facts reveal Brockley, who was on meth and cocaine at the time, was also seen crossing double white lines shortly after midnight. After speaking to police, officers searched his car.
“Police had conducted checks on Brockley, which revealed a considerable history in Victoria of drug-related offences. They formed the suspicion he had drugs on his person,” police facts reveal.
“Asked if he had any drugs in his car, Brockley handed police a small container, saying: ‘Just this’.”
Brockley told officers the container, labelled Aspen Dexamphetamine, was treatment for ADHD. Police found 14 tablets and capsules containing the substance in his car.
Labelling on the bottle listed an address in NSW, not Victoria where Brockley was studying at RMIT.
In their search of the vehicle, police uncovered a further stash of party-type drugs and hallucinogens in a yellow Pelican container wrapped in a jumper and stashed under the front passenger seat.
Five illicit drugs were found inside, including 19.39g of MDMA, 14g of cocaine, 0.41g of dimethyltryptamine, 12.5g of ketamine, and four pieces of multi-coloured cardboard containing LSD.
Police also found a set of small scales, small plastic bags, and $5860 in cash.
Brockley admitted he owned the container, but told officers he was unaware of the drugs inside.
He was charged with five counts of drug supply, driving under the influence of drugs, possessing prohibited drugs and criminal proceeds.
On Monday, Ms Stone told the court the matters had “taken some time” to be resolved.
In November, Brockley traversed previous pleas of guilt following disagreement with police over an additional supply charge relating to the DMT. The amount, Ms Stone argued on behalf of her client, was too low to be for supply under law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Doug Dick ordered Brockley to pay fines totalling $9400.
His license will also be suspended, and will be forfeited to Victorian police.
Brockley did not appear in person as he had been hospitalised following an accident.
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