Snapchat drug dealer in trouble again, pleads guilty to 12 charges in Southport Magistrates Court

A young Gold Coast dad who set up a drug trafficking business on Snapchat has faced court again on 12 charges. FIND OUT WHY

A young dad who smashed his way into chemists to steal drugs was told he was so close to jail he should “feel the breeze of the inside of a cell”.

But 21-year-old Coby James Bell managed to avoid a stint behind bars, walking from court on immediate parole.

He pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday to 12 charges, including enter premises by break, attempt to enter premises and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

On March 30, 2020, Bell and his co-offenders used a hammer to smash their way into a number of pharmacies across the Gold Coast, the court was told.

The dad stole drugs to traffic them on Snapchat.

In the Southport District Court last week, Bell was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole over the drug trafficking.

The 12 offences he pleaded guilty to on Thursday were separated from the district court matters because they were initially contested.

Defence barrister James Grehan, of Legal Aid Queensland, said Bell and others broke into the pharmacies to feed their drug addictions.

Southport Courthouse. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Grehan said his client had since turned his life around – he is engaged, has two children and works at a recycling centre.

“It is in my respectful submission in the interests of Mr Bell, his family and the community that he be allowed to continue on his path of rehabilitation and that any period of imprisonment could only result in derailing his significant steps towards becoming a useful member of the community,” he said.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic said it would be a disservice to send Bell to jail, given the changes he had made since the offending more than two years ago.

“I hope you understand Mr Bell that where you are standing right now, you should be feeling the breeze of the inside of a cell. That’s how close you are of going to jail,” she said.

Bell was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with immediate release on parole.

He was disqualified from driving for six months.

Convictions were recorded.

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Originally published as Snapchat drug dealer in trouble again, pleads guilty to 12 charges in Southport Magistrates Court