Hairdresser Kerrie Bolton sentenced for drug supply

An experienced hair colourist briefly traded her salon for a cell when she was busted dealing illicit drugs near a known Sydney hotspot and remanded in custody for the weekend.

Kerrie Bolton leaving Downing Centre Local Court on September 20 2023 after being sentenced for drug supply. (NO BYLINE)

An experienced hair colourist was busted supplying cocaine secreted in a vape in her handbag after police observed her using the oldest tricks in the book near a known inner Sydney drug hotspot.

A magistrate observed that people must have thought highly sought after blonde specialist Kerrie Bolton was a woman with everything under control – until she wound up in custody on remand charged with supplying 10 bags of cocaine.

The Darlington hairdresser was charged with two counts of drug supply and one count of dealing with crime proceeds after police nabbed her dropping off a customer outside Ryan’s Bar in Sydney’s CBD on June 2.

“Police were targeting dial a dealer services, where suppliers of prohibited drugs are contacted by buyers of prohibited drugs via phone or text message to deliver the prohibited drugs,” police stated in documents tendered to Downing Centre Local Court.

“As of recent times, Ryan’s Bar experiences a high incidence of drug-related crime, predominantly possession and supply of prohibited drugs – namely, methamphetamine and cocaine which is often distributed to the location via dial-a-dealer.”

Kerrie Bolton leaving Downing Centre Local Court.

Plain clothes police observed the entire predictable ploy, as Bolton picked up a man who was constantly checking his phone, drove him a short distance down the street in her black BMW, then dropped him off again.

Officers then swooped on Bolton’s vehicle and the customer.

“Police asked the accused ‘what did you supply’ and the accused made full admissions and said two bags of cocaine,” police stated in court documents.

“Police asked ‘are there any more drugs in the car’ and the accused replied ‘there are eight more bags in the vape in my handbag’.”

A drug dog subsequently located the drugs and police additionally found $1060 cash.

Court documents state Bolton was on bail for unrelated matters at the time which prohibited her from possessing any illicit drugs, constituting a breach.

Kerrie Bolton leaving Downing Centre Local Court.

Magistrate Paul Mulroney acknowledged Bolton had endured a difficult relationship, her grandmother’s death and business challenges due to Covid-19 prior to her offending.

“One way of dealing with that grief is to detach yourself from reality,” Mr Mulroney commented of Bolton’s drug use.

“I would hope that on reflection, you can see it was only short term detachment, a temporary bandaid.”

One of Bolton’s clients was among those who provided the court with a character reference.

“My guess is that people that come into your salon in Paddington take one look at you and say here’s a beautiful woman with everything under control, she’s got everything happening,” Mr Mulroney remarked.

“To give someone a different impression of you would have taken a bit of work and that for me is an indicator that you’re genuine about trying to make some changes.”

Mr Mulroney convicted Bolton of all three charges and placed her on a two-year supervised community corrections order with a requirement to abstain from all drugs and alcohol.

She was also fined $1000 for the crime proceeds charge.

“Please make sure you deal with the problems that got you to where you are, you’ll be back here if you try and avoid and minimise them,” Mr Mulroney said.