Drew Lloyd: Western Sydney tradie sentenced for cocaine dial-a-dealer operation at Bondi Beach

A western Sydney man was sentenced after being caught driving with five bags of coke hidden in a chewing gum box and $3900 in $100 notes, but the magistrate saved his harshest words for the eastern suburbs users fuelling demand.

A tradie from western Sydney found himself at an eastern suburbs’ court after he was busted with five bags of cocaine and $3900 in 50-dollar notes while driving the streets of Bondi Beach.

Drew Lloyd, 20, of Lethbridge Park, was sentenced for drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of a crime at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday, but the magistrate saved his harshest words for the eastern suburbs buyers fuelling demand for the drug.

According to court documents, plain clothes police patrolling Bondi Beach around 9.30pm on September 30 saw a man near The Royal Hotel quickly enter Lloyd’s car, which did a lap around the block before heading back into the pub.

After the man admitted to police he bought cocaine during his interaction in the car, they stopped Lloyd on Bondi Rd, the agreed facts state.

Police searched the car and discovered five bags of cocaine totalling 2.8g in an Extra chewing gum bottle in the drivers side door pocket and $3900 in $50 and $100 notes in a bum bag in the back seat, along with further bags of cocaine totalling 2.5g.

Drew Lloyd leaving Waverley Court on November 1.

During the search police noticed Lloyd’s mobile phone received multiple messages through the app ‘Wickr’ – commonly used in dial-a-dealer operations – and later saw messages detailing drug supply locations and values.

Lloyd’s lawyer Tayla Regan told the court her client recognised he had been found with a “not insignificant” amount of cocaine but said he had recently lost his job installing air conditioners and had experienced financial hardship.

Ms Regan said the court should consider the man’s youth and non-existent criminal record in its sentencing.

Magistrate Ross Hudson – who noted drug supply matters flowing into Local Court take up an increasing amount of its time – directed some blame at demand from the eastern suburbs.

“It’s time the eastern suburbs woke up to itself,” Magistrate Hudson said, expressing concern at the number of upstanding citizens who work from nine-to-five before contacting a dealer to buy drugs.

“[When the weekday ends,] we get our cocaine. It’s not normal; it’s ridiculous,” the magistrate warned.

Magistrate Hudson told the court two years ago the amount of drugs and cash discovered on Lloyd could have sent him to the district court on drug trafficking charges – however the local court could offer him more opportunities for rehabilitation.

Magistrate Hudson convicted Lloyd of drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of a crime and sentenced him to a combined 27-month conditional release order.

The magistrate warned Lloyd he would face dire consequences should he return before a court.

“You are risking potentially a different view to be taken,” Magistrate Hudson said.

“Be warned.”