Brayden Luke Thomas given probation for cocaine, marijuana and weapon stash
A former Gold Coast nightclub manager was busted by police with cocaine and marijuana stashed in a Gucci bum bag in the boot of an unregistered Mercedes Benz. This was his excuse.
Police & Courts
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A FORMER Gold Coast nightclub manager has blamed his cocaine and marijuana addiction on working “day and night”.
Brayden Luke Thomas was busted by police on January 15 with 1.10g of cocaine and an ounce of marijuana stashed in a Gucci bum bag in the boot of an unregistered Mercedes Benz.
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The 22-year-old pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs schedule 1 quantity and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Erin Livingstone said Thomas was pulled over by police on Old Burleigh Rd, Surfers Paradise when a registration check on the aqua 2008 Mercedes Benz he was driving showed it had expired 35 days earlier.
Sgt Livingstone said Thomas’ driver’s licence was covered in a thick layer of white powder consistent with cocaine.
She said officers searched the car, which didn’t belong to Thomas, and found cocaine, marijuana and knuckle dusters inside a Gucci bum bag in the boot.
Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said his client was working day and night while working at Empire R & B Nightclub and had become reliant on cocaine and marijuana.
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“Since being charged with this offence he has resigned from the employment he had and has obtained alternative employment and it seems he is getting some supervision and mentoring in the industry,” Mr Gatenby said.
Magistrate Catherine Pirie said she accepted Thomas had a difficult background and that he felt embarrassed and ashamed by his poor decisions.
“To be able to keep on top of this you very foolishly made the decision to rely on drugs to keep you awake and also to help you go to sleep,” Ms Pirie said.
Thomas was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and 18 months’ probation. A conviction was not recorded.