Court bans accused teenage drug ‘dealer’ from social media
A court has banned a schoolboy from using any social media after he was charged with four counts of trafficking drugs, including ecstasy, methylamphetamine and LSD, to fellow students.
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A schoolboy faces charges of peddling a raft of dangerous drugs, including ecstasy, methylamphetamine, cannabis and LSD, to his peers.
Police allege the young teen used the popular social media platform Snapchat to run a drugs-on-demand service that also included Viagra and Xanax.
Now a court has imposed a social media blackout, warning if he uses any form of social media he’ll be locked up.
The teen, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, was charged with four counts of trafficking a drug of dependence last month.
It is alleged at the time he was running his drug business the teen was on bail for robbery offences.
But he was given a second shot at bail last week after making a fresh application in the Supreme Court.
It meant he was free to enjoy a family holiday before returning to Melbourne where he will start a new job and be subjected to a raft of strict bail conditions.
As well as the social media blackout he must abide by strict residential conditions and a restrictive curfew. He won’t be allowed out at weekends without supervision.
To secure bail, the boy — who had spent 10 days in custody — had to prove exceptional circumstances.
Supreme Court judge Justice Rita Zammit said because of a combination of factors including his age, potential delay in his court case, the boy’s extensive family support and his employment prospects, she was satisfied exceptional circumstances had been established.
In granting bail she said it must carry some risk, and said it was regrettable the boy was on bail at the time of his alleged offending.
But Justice Zammit said she was confident the boy could begin to turn his life around.
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“I propose to put my faith in those around (the boy) to support him,” she said.
She described the allegations levelled at the teen as “very serious”.
Outlining strict bail conditions, Justice Zammit warned the boy if he breached any of them he would find himself back in youth detention.
She said the conditions were not about punishing the boy, but were focused on the protection and safety of the community.
Justice Zammit recommended the boy be subjected to regular judicial monitoring, meaning he would be forced to regularly report to a children’s court so his progress could be tracked.