According to information presented in Orange Local Court, police were dealing with an unrelated job in Orchard Grove Road about 4am on July 18, 2020, when they saw a car speeding towards them without its headlights on.

Police watched the car pull into a driveway in the street so approached the driver, Cody Peter David Stanley Wright, of Amana Crescent.

Police asked Wright why he was driving without his headlights on and he said, "I don't know I just panicked".

While they were talking to him Wright began shaking and he said, "I have caps on me" referring to MDMA or ecstasy pills.

Police told him he would be searched and he said the "caps" were in the driver's door of the vehicle and he said they were MDMA and he pulled into a random driveway to avoid police.

During the search the police found 17 pills weighing 3.4 grams in resealable plastic bags.

Magistrate David Day convicted Wright and placed him on a two-year community correction order and fined him $550.

Mr Day said the offence is serious but there was no evidence of supply.

"Because of the sheer number of pills, 17, it makes it a deemed supply," Mr Day said.

"Mr Wright has good prospects of rehabilitation, he's back in the workforce, he's been abstinent for 21 weeks."

Solicitor Kim Rickards said between the ages of 14 and 18 Wright was a promising basketball player and represented NSW country.

Mr Rickards said Wright has employment and the offending was a contradiction of his character and background and his parents continue to support him.

He said Wright has also taken steps to abstain from drugs and deal with the offence.

"He certainly has maintained abstinence," Mr Rickards said.

"He's got his job and he's got the opportunity to hopefully return to being the young man who he was."