Police outline case against Mark Bomber Thompson as he prepares to fight drug charges
A PLEA offer by footy great Mark Bomber Thompson over drug trafficking charges has been rejected as the case against the ex-AFL player and coach was detailed in court.
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POLICE have accused former AFL star Mark “Bomber” Thompson of serious drug trafficking with the case against him detailed for the first time.
Thompson appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning where his legal team failed in a bid to have the police allegations kept secret.
He had made an offer to plead guilty to some of the eight charges he is facing, but it was rejected by prosecutors.
He will now fight the case at a three-day hearing set down for June.
The main issue in the case involved multiple drug trafficking charges, prosecutor Sergeant Geoff Adam said.
Police allege they uncovered more than 40 times the traffickable quantity of ecstasy and 10 times the traffickable quantity of methamphetamine during a raid on Thompson’s Port Melbourne home.
Scales, a shoebox containing multiple empty deal bags, and a locked box containing sealed bags containing drugs were also allegedly uncovered in the January raid.
Thompson’s DNA was found on many of the items, the court heard.
“I can’t say the case is weak,” magistrate Simon Zebrowski said.
Thompson’s lawyer said he had no financial incentive or need to traffic drugs.
The court heard drugs were found in Thompson’s bedroom, a locked bedroom off that room, and in an upstairs mezzanine.
Prosecutors alleged 9.5 xanax tablets, 134 grams of ecstasy, 31.8 grams of methamphetamine, 1.33 grams of MDMA and an LSD tablet were found at the home.
Thompson was charged on May 1 with seven offences including trafficking ecstasy and ice as well as possessing ecstasy, ice, LSD and Xanax.
An additional charge of contravening a condition of bail has since been added over allegations he had failed to report to police twice.
Last month, Thompson’s housemate, 29-year-old Thomas Windsor, pleaded guilty to drugs charges.
He was also arrested and charged following the January raid.
Windsor pleaded guilty to single counts of drug trafficking and possessing items for the purpose of drug trafficking in exchange for a get out of jail card.
It came after prosecutors dropped charges of commercial drug trafficking.
Instead of further jail time Windsor was placed on an 18 month community corrections order.
He was also sentenced to 169 days’ imprisonments, but that term had already been served.
Windsor must undergo treatment and rehabilitation for drug abuse and remain under supervision throughout the term of his CCO.
“The reality is this, you’re kind of running out of chances,” magistrate Simon Zebrowski told Windsor.
“Stick clear of your old cronies. They’re no good for you,” he said.
Mr Zebrowski said Windsor had a significant criminal history and urged him to stay away from drugs.
Thompson, an AFL great, played in three flags with Essendon and later coached Geelong to two premierships.
Mr Zebrowski acceded to a request to change Thompson’s reporting obligations to police from three times weekly to just once a week.
He remains subject to a string of other strict bail conditions.
The matter will return to court in April. Thompson does not need to attend on that day.
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