Jaxon Robert Kahn Salisbury pleads guilty to cocaine bust at Ninderry

A man has told police the thousands of dollars of cash found during a targeted drug raid on his home were the proceeds of a lucky day on the punt.

Jaxon Robert Kahn Salisbury faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A court has heard how a Ninderry labourer who failed to give police access to his phone after being found with a large amount of cocaine told officers the drug money uncovered was won from the pokies.

The genesis of Jaxon Robert Kahn Salisbury’s $8150 discovered during a search warrant at his Ninderry home on March 8 last year was discussed during his sentence in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old was sentenced after pleas of guilty to possessing drugs over the schedule, contravening an order to open his phone, possessing anything used in the connection of the commission of an offence and possessing scales.

After police raided Salisbury’s home, Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said he was uncooperative with officers and refused to grant them access to his phone.

Sergeant Pyke said 9.37g of cocaine was found during the search, with scientific testing revealing only 3.57g of the substance was pure.

Salisbury pleaded guilty. Picture: Patrick Woods

The court heard Salisbury told police the cash found had been won from the pokies, then said part of it was from his employment.

Defence solicitor Ben Rynderman told the court there was no commerciality alleged from the drugs or the cash found by police.

“Sounds like your client got a pretty good deal,” magistrate Chris Callaghan said.

Mr Rynderman then contended the 22-year-old co-operated with the administration of justice as well.

“Except for not giving police access to the phone,” Mr Callaghan replied.

Salisbury’s lawyer said the labourer had a problem with substances at the time after he was stood down from his roofing apprenticeship during the pandemic.

Salisbury outside court. Picture: Patrick Woods

The court heard the 22-year-old spiralled into a “party lifestyle” where he would buy cocaine in large quantities for his own use.

As for his refusal to open his phone to police, Mr Rynderman claimed the aspiring youth worker did not want others to get into trouble for his responsibility, or to “escalate” the incident “up the chain”.

An apology letter and references were tendered to Mr Callaghan, with the court being told the Ninderry man was clean from drugs and had no criminal history.

Mr Callaghan said he had to sentence Salisbury on the basis it was suspected he was going to buy more cocaine with the cash found, despite already being found with a large amount already.

The magistrate accepted the charges were an aberration, but believed it warranted more than just probation.

Salisbury was jailed for six months, which was immediately suspended for 12 months.

Originally published as Jaxon Robert Kahn Salisbury pleads guilty to cocaine bust at Ninderry