Toowoomba Grammar old boy ‘Ricky Bobby’ in alleged coke bust

A former elite grammar school student accused of trafficking cocaine and having bikie links allegedly used an alias on encrypted apps, a court has heard.

A former Toowoomba Grammar School student accused of trafficking cocaine and bikie links allegedly used the alias Ricky Bobby on encrypted apps, a court has heard.

Matthew Luke George, 29, is facing charges of trafficking and possessing drugs and possessing anything used in the commission of a drug crime.

Police prosecutor Lauren Archer opposed a bail application with a $50,000 surety by George in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

“The crown case is extremely strong. He is one of the main offenders to recruit others to supply drugs on his behalf. It's a sophisticated operation,” she alleged.

George’s solicitor Andrew Owens, of Owens and Associates, said the police claim that his client was an associate of an outlaw motorcycle gang was a “bare faced assertion” without any supporting evidence.

Police will allege that George was linked to a number of drug busts across the state based on messages uncovered on the encrypted platform Signal involving a user they claim is the defendant.

“They go ‘this happened, this happened, this happened’ and then try and link the defendant to all of them,” Mr Owens said.

“Police allege George is Ricky Bobby, there‘s nothing else, there’s no messages saying how they linked this person to Mr. George.

“There's just no messages or details of anything linking him.”

Mr Owens said his client was not found with large amounts of money or drugs and there were fingerprints, DNA or footage linking him to the alleged offences.

The court heard George had an extensive criminal history involving mostly drug matters.

Mr Owens said his client came form a good home and had attended St0 Laurence’s College in Brisbane before boarding for his final two years at Toowoomba Grammar School.

A talented rugby player he enrolled in business at the Queensland University of Technology before suffering a significant leg injury that stopped his sport, he said.

Mr Owens said George then fell in with the wrong crowd leading to his drug use which explained his criminal history.

He said his client had not offended for nearly six years.

Acting Magistrate Maryanne May said she was concerned about his criminal history along with the seriousness of the allegations levelled against George following an extensive police investigation.

Bail was refused and the matter adjourned to November 11.

Originally published as Toowoomba Grammar old boy ‘Ricky Bobby’ in alleged coke bust