A 37-YEAR-old man will serve 150 hours of community service after trying to conceal cash and drugs down his pants.
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Bradley Steven Parker, of Sean O’Doherty Place, faced Orange Local Court on Monday charged with drug possession and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Police said officers pulled over a white BMW near a known drug supply address in Algona Crescent.
During conversations with the driver, police saw Parker, seated in the passenger seat, slip a white drawstring bag out of sight, which has cash protruding from the top.
They started a search of the vehicle – nothing was found on the female driver, but scales were located in the footwell on the passenger side.
Failing to find the cash, police started a strip search on Parker, taking him into the back of a police van.
Parker objected to removing his shorts, but when he did, cash fell out.
He managed to put his shorts back on, but once they were removed again, police spotted a drawstring peeking out from between Parker’s right testicle and leg.
After he refused to open his legs, police took hold of them and the bag dropped out.
It’s a substantial amount of the drug and it would have cost a substantial amount for someone like Mr Parker – why he had so much, I don’t know.
- Magistrate David Day
It contained 10 small clear resealable bags, five of them containing small white granules.
The 6.3 grams of granules were later found to be ice and $375 in cash was seized.
Parker faced court via video link due to other charges pending, with solicitor Josh Piggott telling the court he had a number of children he wanted to reconcile with.
“He’s willing to work, he can work and in my respectful submission, he should be working,” he said.
“He’s willing to participate in rehabilitation if he’s released and assist all counselling services.”
Mr Piggott said the removal of two charges on a previous court date allowed Parker to plead guilty to the rest.
Magistrate David Day handed down two 12-month community corrections orders, with 100 hours’ community service for the proceeds of crime charge and 50 hours for the drug charge.
Awarding a 15 per cent discount off the sentence for pleading guilty before the hearing, he said the seriousness of the offences was “relatively low”.
“The amount of methylamphetamine is serious – 6.3 grams,” he said.
“It’s a substantial amount of the drug and it would have cost a substantial amount for someone like Mr Parker – why he had so much, I don’t know.”
Parker will also be required to abstain from drugs for the next year.
Through solicitor Ben Tonkin, Parker changed his plea to guilty for other charges of larceny, resisting police and damaging property.
He will be sentenced on Thursday.
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