Adelaide break dancer William Gilbert Johnston sentenced for drug trafficking

This break dancer from Adelaide’s east was on track to represent Australia at the Olympics – until a mystery man told him to sell drugs to cover the rent.

He could have been competing against Australia break dancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn for a shot at representing Australia in the Paris Olympics – but instead this young Adelaide dancer fell into drugs.

William Gilbert Johnston, 23, of Unley, avoided jail on Tuesday after advertising drugs on instant messaging app Snapchat and then selling the illegal substances, including mixed cocaine and MDA pills, to an undercover police officer on several occasions in 2023.

Johnston had pleaded guilty to four count of trafficking a controlled drug.

District Court Judge Ian Press on Monday described Johnston’s childhood as “challenging and dysfunctional” at times and said as a teenager he “became excessively rebellious”, left school and began using drugs.

Break dancer William Gilbert Johnston leaves court after being sentenced for drug trafficking.

Johnston was previously arrested in December 2020 and later conviction for earlier drug trafficking offences, the court heard.

The court heard prior to this, Johnston was on track to competing at the Youth Olympics in break dancing.

“You had qualified to represent Australia at the Youth Olympics in break dancing. A lack of funding meant you are unable to attend,” Judge Press said.

He said despite this, Johnston was “at that time, committed to qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics”.

“Your arrest and conviction for drug trafficking disqualified you from representing Australia,” Judge Press said.

“You state this lost opportunity gave rise to a certain self-destructive attitude on your part. Your use of alcohol and drugs increased dramatically.

“You distanced yourself from anyone who had been a positive influence in your life and you effectively immersed yourself in drug use.”

It after this Johnston moved in with a man identified in court only as Mr S, who suggested the defendant could sell cocaine and ecstasy to cover his rent and cocaine use.

Johnston was working casually at a catering company at the time but lost the job to increased drug use.

“I’ve had regard to the sentencing remarks of Mr S, the person who you were living,” Judge Press said.

“It does appear that amounts being sold by Mr S were significant. However it appears to have been suggested that he should be sentenced on the basis that he was a street-level dealer.”

“Whether Mr S could be said to have manipulated you or not, the adverts that you were placing on Snapchat and that you received free rent and free drugs all indicate that you were motivated to offend by the benefits you would receive.

“I do accept that your heavy use of drugs at the time may have clouded your judgment.”

Judge Press said before his arrest, Johnston moved back in with his mother and went through withdrawal.

Judge Press said by committing those offences Johnston also breached an 18-month good behaviour bond imposed on him last year for two counts of assault, which involved headbutting two security personnel during a dispute at a casino while he was drunk and on drugs.

In sentencing him, he said Johnston’s prospects of rehabilitation were “far better now” than 11 months ago but there was still a need to deter him from future offending if he returned to drug use.

The 23-year-old was sentenced to three years and three months of home detention with a non-parole period of one year and 11 months.

Judge Press also sentenced him to 25 hours of community service for the two counts of assault.

Originally published as Adelaide break dancer William Gilbert Johnston sentenced for drug trafficking