Mikayla Noakes ordered to live with grandparents, pro surfer partner Tate Robinson wins bail
A Gold Coast surfer arrested in a weekend drug bust has been granted bail ... but the magistrate threatened to reverse his decision.
Police & Courts
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A Gold Coast surfer arrested in the same drug bust as former NRL star Michael Gordon has been granted bail despite a magistrate angrily accusing him of laughing in court.
Sponsored surfer Tate Robinson, 22, and his Instagram influencer girlfriend Mykala Noakes, 20, both faced Tweed Heads Local Court on Thursday on multiple serious drugs charges.
They and former Gold Coast Titans player turned coach Gordon were among seven people arrested in police raids last weekend after an investigation into an alleged cross-border cocaine and MDMA racket.
Noakes was ordered to live with her grandparents as part of strict bail conditions including a night curfew.
Appearing via video link from a jail cell, Robinson faced 20 charges including participating in a criminal group and supplying cocaine.
Police opposed bail, saying he was an unacceptable risk of fleeing, committing more crimes and endangering the community.
Prosecutor Nathan Lockett told the court that Robinson faced up to 20 years’ jail.
Mr Lockett said that while Robinson was not the ‘ultimate leader’ of the alleged criminal syndicate, ‘he is clearly in a position of some authority within that organisation’.
“He’s more than peripherally involved,” Mr Lockett said.
Defence lawyer Ron Behlau, of Behlau Murakami Grant Lawyers, told the court that his client had no criminal history and his alleged involvement based on the police facts was only as a drug “runner”.
Mr Behlau said there was no evidence against Robinson expected of someone “higher up the chain”.
Magistrate Michael Dakin said he was not prepared to accept that Robinson was a low-level player in the alleged drug syndicate.
“Whilst he’s not in charge and not directing the operations, he had a great deal of discretion and was actively involved in fulfilling the (drug) orders,” Mr Dakin said.
However, he agreed to release Robinson on bail on strict conditions including a social media ban and orders that he have no contact with his co-accused including Noakes.
He also had to surrender his passport and live with his parents.
But before formally granting bail, Mr Dakin accused Robinson of laughing and threatened to reverse his decision.
“Why are you laughing?” the magistrate demanded.
“I’m running out of patience with you and this bail determination can be very quickly changed.”
Robinson denied laughing and said: “There’s nothing funny at all, your honour. At all.”
Titans coach refuses to address troubling rumour in Michael Gordon drug syndicate arrest
Originally published as Mikayla Noakes ordered to live with grandparents, pro surfer partner Tate Robinson wins bail
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