Zachary Samuel Maidment sentenced in Southport District Court over supplying drugs at Darling Hotel on Gold Coast
Queensland Police has rejected claims that cops, like Zachary Maidment who was embroiled in a cocaine and stripper scandal, ‘self-medicate’ to escape a toxic culture.
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Queensland Police has rejected claims that cops are self-medicating to escape a toxic culture.
Former Gold Coast Rapid Action and Patrols group officer Zachary Maidment pleaded guilty last week to three counts of supplying and was given a three-month suspended prison sentence.
Maidment was still a police officer when he was caught on surveillance providing cocaine and snorting lines off his then-fiance’s chest in a room at Star Casino’s Darling Hotel in June 2020.
During sentencing, Maidment’s barrister claimed the cop had turned to drugs to help deal with the stress of the job.
The court was told there were “pockets” within the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in which it was “weak” to seek help.
A QPS spokeswoman told the Bulletin: “The mental health and wellbeing of our members is a high priority for the Queensland Police Service.”
In April last year, police launched a “wellbeing strategy” to increase awareness, reduce stigma and foster a supportive culture to mental health and wellbeing, the spokeswoman said. That strategy included anonymous self-referral to psychological support and implementation of psychosocial first aid.
“QPS employees, including members of the Gold Coast Rapid Action and Patrols group, have access to a range of internal support options including senior psychologists, social workers, peer support officers (PSOs) and police chaplains,” the spokeswoman said.
“The aim of these services is to promote and support the psychological wellbeing and resilience of all QPS officers and staff through a range of proactive programs.”
Police and their immediate family members are also able to access a confidential, short-term counselling service.
Ex-cops jokes about heading ‘Back to the Darling’
Two former police officers joked about heading back to the same hotel they were caught snorting cocaine off a stripper’s chest and buttocks four months after they were charged.
Zachary Maidment and Joshua Bell were caught by surveillance consuming cocaine and MDMA at a party for Maidment’s birthday at the Darling Hotel in Broadbeach in June 2020.
Both were charged with drug-related offences in August of that year.
The Bulletin can reveal that in December 2020 Bell posted a video to his Instagram story that shows Maidment driving and Bell in the passenger seat. It is captioned: “Back to the Darling we go.”
A speak no evil monkey emoji also accompanied the post.
On the same day, Maidment posted a picture of cans of “hangover relief” and Voltaren pain killers. That picture was captioned: “When ya old but still want to have a boogy we on!”
He also tagged Bell’s Instagram account.
Maidment was sentenced in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to a three-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
Former police officer Joshua Bell, who pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs in June last year was placed on a $300 good behaviour bond for three months and no conviction was recorded.
Since being charged Maidment has been posting prolifically on Instagram with a large number of shirtless pictures.
His social media also shows him on a ski trip to Queenstown in July last year.
In the past month he has posted photos of himself and ex-fiance Tyanan Hansen in Dubai.
On February 14, he wished her a happy Valentine’s Day accompanied with a photo taken in Dubai and a photo of each wearing rings on an index finger.
The court was told on Wednesday he was single.
Ms Hansen was also at the original Darling party.
The former Maxim model pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs in November 2020 and was fined $1500 and no conviction was recorded.
Maidment also links on his Instagram to a Only Fans account in which he posts adult content featuring himself, Ms Hansen and other women.
Snorting coke off stripper gf my ‘self-medication’
February 23: A police officer caught supplying “titty lines” and ecstasy to other cops and adult entertainers during a birthday party at a luxury Gold Coast hotel has narrowly avoided time behind bars.
Zachary Samuel Maidment was caught on surveillance snorting cocaine off his fiancée’s breast and preparing cocaine lines for her on another woman’s buttocks, during the party at the Darling Hotel on June 27, 2020.
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Maidment, who now makes adult content for OnlyFans, claimed he turned to drugs due to a culture within the Gold Coast Police’s elite Rapid Action Patrol, in which those who sought help were “weak”.
Maidment said he self-medicated to cope with stress after seeing young people stabbed and die and being threatened by bikies.
The 29-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
Judge Paul Smith sentenced him to three months’ prison, wholly suspended for 12 months.
“It is clear it is an aggravating feature of this case that your were a serving police officer, bearing in mind that police officers take an oath to uphold the law,” Judge Smith said.
Maidment started planning his birthday party on June 11, 2020 and sent messages letting people know there would be “titty lines” – cocaine – and MDMA at the event.
During the party Maidment then offered those some ecstasy.
He was later seen doing a cocaine line off the breast of his fiancé Tyana Hansen – a former UltraTune advertisement actor – and offering the cocaine to another woman.
Maidment later cut a line on the buttocks of another woman and offered it to Ms Hansen.
Ms Hansen, a former Maxim model, pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs in November 2020 and was fined $1500. No conviction was recorded.
Former police officer Joshua Bell, who pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs in June last year, was placed on a $300 good behaviour bond for three months. No conviction was recorded.
Police officer Todd David also pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs in June last year and was placed on a $300 good behaviour bond for six months. No conviction was recorded.
The surveillance had been placed in the hotel room as a part of a joint Queensland Police and Crime and Corruption Commission investigation targeting drug use among police officers.
Defence barrister Bernard Reilly, instructed by Ashkan Tai Lawyers, said the offending was consistent of someone medicating for stress.
“There still existed at the time of my client’s service this culture that characterises those who seek help as being weak,” he said.
Mr Reilly said that feeling existed in “pockets” in the police service, including the Gold Coast RAP squad, for which officers were often sent to “high-adrenaline” situations.
He said Maidment was remorseful for his actions and stopped using drugs.
Mr Reilly tendered to the court five clean drug tests taken between March and December last year.
He said Maidment had resigned from the police force as a “recognition of the inevitable” and had managed a shop for a short time.
Maidment is studying to become a workplace health and safety officer.
He also links on his Instagram to an OnlyFans account in which he posts adult content featuring himself, Ms Hansen and other women that can be viewed for a small fee.
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