Gold Coast influencers’ in legal strife: Mikayla Noakes, Garry James Turner, Stefan Anthony Vicelic, Troy Kenneth Williams, Tori Darrington and Azzra Hughes
Drug charges, hooning offences and even attempts at arson - the glamorous lives of these social media stars at times have come undone thanks to their brushes with the law.
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These Instagram show-offs post a life of luxury, but have had their own run-ins with the law.
And an expert warns the trend is set to continue.
With more young people seeking fame on social media, Bond University School of Psychology Associate Professor Peta Stapleton said there was a dark side to social media fame.
“The pressures may (include) constant documenting of their lives, little privacy and the pressure to live up to a certain lifestyle scene they have created,” Dr Stapleton said.
“This may or may not be ‘real’ so therefore requires constant creation. The competition with other instafamous people might be a pressure as well.
“Whether someone is famous in their real lives or online has its pressures – if their self esteem and value as a person is attached to the number of likes or followers or promotion offers, and this changes, then they are susceptible to being affected.”
These are the Gold Coast influencers’ who had a run-in with the law:
Mikayla Noakes
Followers: 12,000 Instagram followers
Conviction: Pleaded guilty to: participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of supply prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug.
The glamorous bartender-turned-influencer was only 20 when she was sentenced for her part in a group of seven accused of being involved in a drug syndicate.
Once having more than 12,000 Instagram followers, Mikayla Noakes’ life changed when police charged her with possession of drugs.
She was found with a small amount of cocaine on her on October 4 and November 14 2020, although on the second occasion when she was stopped police seized 0.78g of the drug.
According to court documents, she had a further 4g hidden in her bra which was not discovered at the time.
Noakes appeared in Tweed Heads Local Court in March last year for her part in the cross-border syndicate.
She pleaded guilty to four charges: participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of supply prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug.
Noakes was sentenced to a 12-month intensive correction order with conditions to perform 100 hours community service and fined $300.
Garry James Turner
Instagram: gtrain_pro
Followers: 400,000
Conviction: Pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a restricted drug.
A Gold Coast Instagram influencer caught with steroids does nothing but train, get photos taken and go to bed early, a court was told.
Former schoolteacher Garry James Turner pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court in March 2021 to possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a restricted drug.
The 41-year-old was found with a small amount of drostanolone, a type of steroid, and a gel containing sildenafil, the main ingredient in Viagra, when police searched his Biggera Waters home on November 30, 2019.
Defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum told the court the search was part of a drug operation which months earlier had found more steroid-type drugs at Turner’s place.
Turner was sentenced to two years prison with immediate parole for those drug offences in the Supreme Court in September 2020.
“The fact that he is now on parole has certainly given him a big scare,” Mr MacCallum said.
He told the court that since the sentencing Turner has been prescribed a type of peptide.
Magistrate Catherine Pirie noted that Turner, originally from England, was well-educated, articulate and had worked as a teacher for almost 13 years.
She convicted Turner without further punishment. Convictions were recorded.
Stefan Anthony Vicelic
Followers: 26,000
Conviction: Pleaded guilty to arson and breach of bail
An Instagram bodybuilder left his iPhone near his father’s car after he torched it near an upscale Gold Coast health spa in what was described as an “idiotic” attempt to get insurance money.
Stefan Anthony Vicelic had used the phone to search for tips about jerry cans and which type of petrol was best to light a fire.
The bodybuilder burnt his hands, wrists and ankles setting the blaze.
He was also found to have breached his bail by using social media despite bail conditions banning him from the apps.
Vicelic pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court in August 2020 to arson and breach of bail.
The judge described Vicelic’s attempts as “idiotic”.
He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years with parole release on December 20, 2020.
No conviction recorded
Troy Kenneth Williams
Instagram: troycandy
Followers: 204,000
Conviction: Pleaded guilty to making unnecessary noise and smoke and driving without due care
The man known as Candyman 2.0 claims he was “encouraged by hundreds of cheering people” when he did a burnout in a public car park at a Gold Coast car show.
Troy Kenneth Williams, who styles himself on Instagram as Troy Candy, was fined $2000 for the burnout when he faced Southport Magistrates Court in June last year.
No conviction was recorded. He will keep his licence.
He had pleaded guilty to making unnecessary noise and smoke and driving without due care and attention.
Prosecutor Donn Reid said Williams was at a car show held by Black Diamond Tinting on Siganto Rd, Helensvale on November 10, 2019.
He said a crowd of about 50 people were around his Holden Commodore in the car park when Williams began to spin his wheels, causing smoke and the tyres to screech.
Williams then moved slowly forward for a short distance before doing another burnout, leaving tyre marks for about 40m.
The 31-year-old was not arrested until early 2020 after he relocated from Melbourne to the Gold Coast.
Defence lawyer Blake Fraser, of Fraser Lawyers, said Williams performed the burnout after others had done the same thing.
“He was encouraged by hundreds of cheering people to do the same thing,” he said.
“He accepts the smoke caused a disturbance to other road users.”
Tori Darrington
Followers: 12,000
Conviction: Pleaded guilty to common assault
A self-described “private dancer” was in hot water when she punched her flatmate’s mother in the neck.
It was the second time in less than two years that Tori Uila Darrington faced court on assault charges.
The dancer pleaded guilty to common assault in Southport Magistrates Court in January 2019 and was fined $1000. No conviction was recorded.
Darrington’s Instagram at the time had more than 12,000 followers and links to a subscription site featuring sexually explicit videos.
Darrington was studying law and frequently travelled overseas and to Melbourne and Sydney to dance.
Azzra Hughes
Instagram: missazz — 3
Followers: 76,000
Conviction: Pleaded guilty to nine offences, including a string of drug charges, drive without due care and attention and driving while a drug was present in blood.
In 2019, former Playboy model Azzra Hughes was caught multiple times with small amounts of drugs, including cocaine, in her possession.
When she appeared in court in January 2020, she vowed to clean up her act and even spoke of having aspirations to become the next prime minister.
She had been caught four times in 18 months for drug-related charges.
Hughes was fined $1000 in January and also received a two-month driving ban.
However, she has never had a conviction recorded against her.
Hughes regularly posts model glamour shots on social media and describes herself as an adoption ambassador for the Animal Welfare League.
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Originally published as Gold Coast influencers’ in legal strife: Mikayla Noakes, Garry James Turner, Stefan Anthony Vicelic, Troy Kenneth Williams, Tori Darrington and Azzra Hughes
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