Zac Claridge sentenced at Gladstone after MDMA bust
What started as a $50 bargain buy at a nightclub turned sour for a young man when he found himself before a magistrate who hit him with a hefty fine.
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A young Central Queensland man who may have thought his $50 nightclub ecstasy purchase was a bargain, has been hit with a hefty fine.
Zac Adrian Claridge, 20, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Wednesday to possessing dangerous drugs.
The court heard that about 2.20am on April 14, police were doing foot patrols of the Fortitude Valley night precinct when they stopped Claridge and another man to speak with them.
Prosecutor Jennifer Leach said police noticed the other man was seemingly affected by drugs.
Ms Leach said Claridge then started to walk away and he was told to come back, which he did.
“Police have observed (Claridge) had an item concealed in the front of his pants,” Ms Leach said.
When police told Claridge they could see this, he tried to run away but officers restrained him.
Police removed a pouch protruding from Claridge’s waistband and inside that they found a clip-seal bag containing 49 MDMA tablets.
Claridge told police he had bought the drugs in a nightclub for $50.
Claridge had a one-page criminal history which included a previous drug possession offence.
Solicitor Jun Pepito said Claridge was currently working and a fine would be appropriate.
Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted that Claridge had been placed on drug diversion after his previous drug offending.
She fined him $1000 and no conviction was recorded.
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Originally published as Zac Claridge sentenced at Gladstone after MDMA bust
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