Benjamin Gibson: Mildura teen caught with pink pills at Heaven nightclub

A brickie’s labourer dabbling in drug deals at a popular Mildura nightclub, didn’t get away with just a fine.

A man was found with six pink pills at Heaven nightclub in Mildura.

A drug trafficker caught with pink MDMA pills at a Mildura nightclub unsuccessfully asked a magistrate to hand out a fine to resolve his matters.

Mildura man Benjamin Gibson, 19, pleaded guilty at the Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, March 30, to trafficking a drug of dependence.

Police told the court on March 6, at about 9.45pm, Gibson was spoken to at Heaven nightclub and admitted to being in possession of pills.

A search found Gibson had six pink tablets with “LV” written on them, in a clear snap-lock bag.

Gibson identified the pills as MDMA.

The court heard an analysis of Gibson’s phone found evidence of trafficking MDMA in the Mildura area, including at his house and at Mildura nightclubs.

Police said he made full admissions to the offending.

Gibson’s lawyer said he had provided “a great deal of detail” and had pleaded guilty early.

The lawyer said Gibson had been diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia.

He had perhaps underestimated the seriousness of his offending, the lawyer said.

Gibson was asked by Magistrate Michael Coghlan whether he was able to complete unpaid community work.

The brickie’s labourer sought for the matter to instead be resolved with a financial penalty.

Mr Coghlan said the matter was too serious for a fine.

He said a message needed to be sent to Gibson and others that dealing in these types of drugs was “no game”.

“A lot of people have lost their lives as a result of having one, or more than one, ecstasy tablet,” Mr Coghlan said.

“You don’t know what’s in these things.”

Gibson was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid community work over eight months.