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Concreter Billy Ford pleads guilty to possessing 10 bags of cocaine after Diddillibah crash

Emergency crews discovered 10 bags of cocaine among the debris of a ute crash where a Sunshine Coast concreter was trapped and suffered significant injuries.

Billy Ford leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday. Picture: Sam Turner
Billy Ford leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday. Picture: Sam Turner

A Kiels Mountain concreter who suffered significant injuries in a devastating car smash with a power pole has had his secret cocaine stash found by emergency services.

Billy Ford had to be cut out of his Nissan ute after he rolled the vehicle and crashed into a power pole along Diddillibah Rd at Diddillibah about 7pm on September 17, 2023.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard on Thursday how the 30-year-old was trapped in the driver’s seat, with emergency crews rescuing him from the crumpled wreck.

Police prosecutor Michael Quirk said while Ford was being attended to, paramedics located a large bag containing smaller baggies of white powder in clear view among the debris.

This was handed to police, with officers confiscating 10 clip seal bags overall containing 1g each of cocaine.

Billy Ford outside court.
Billy Ford outside court.

Mr Quirk said following testing, it was revealed to be about 3g of actual cocaine.

Defence lawyer Katie Paterson said Ford had no memory of the crash and stated the cocaine found was for his personal use only.

The court heard he was charged with a committal drug charge however police prosecutions agreed to finalise the matter in the magistrates court rather than the district court.

Ms Patterson said the Kempsey born concreter suffered broken vertebrae in the horror crash and loss of movement in his right arm. After some physiotherapy he has regained this, but still suffers pain from time to time.

Magistrate Rod Madsen said Ford suffered some significant injuries in the crash but has managed his drug use problem.

The Kiels Mountain man pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs over the schedule and was fined $2000. No conviction recorded.

Originally published as Concreter Billy Ford pleads guilty to possessing 10 bags of cocaine after Diddillibah crash

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/police-courts/concreter-billy-ford-pleads-guilty-to-possessing-10-bags-of-cocaine-after-diddillibah-crash/news-story/417701a3e660b11394cf92b29e44201d