Wanderers’ vice-captain Simon Bates handed suspended sentence on drug charges

A Territory footballer has been handed a six-month suspended sentence for possessing and supplying drugs.

A STAR Territory footballer has been handed a six month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to supplying and possessing party drugs.

Simon Gordon Bates, vice-captain of NTFL club Wanderers, was accused of attempting to flush MDMA and cocaine down his toilet as police arrived at his Karama home on November 14.

He was supported in the Darwin Local Court by his father, two sisters and Wanderers’ premier grade coach Aaron Motlop.

He was charged with possessing a trafficable quantity of a schedule 1 drug and supplying a less than commercial quantity of a schedule 1 drug.

His lawyer Peter Maley said Bates, while in possession of drugs, was found with them while living in the home of another alleged supplier, who police went to arrest.

Simon Bates leaves the Darwin Local Court after receiving a suspended sentence.

He stated his client, who had been found with 1g of cocaine, had recently been diagnosed with mental health issues.

“There was a person who was living there, a significant drug supplier, who the police went there to search and arrest,” Mr Maley said.

“That person is now in custody. My client only moved in two weeks before the arrest occurred and that person is in custody subject to a significant number of charges over a lengthy period of time.

“(My client) does not have an extended history of related offences and has excellent family support.”

Judge Alan Woodcock said the supply of schedule 1 drugs needed to be properly punished when he handed down the six-month sentence, which was suspended for 12 months.

“Courts need to bring home to young people if you supply schedule one drugs in the Northern Territory, you will be properly punished,” Mr Woodcock said.

“He’s a worker, he’s got family support and if he stays on the straight and narrow, there’s real prospects that he will never come back here (to court).”