A BATHURST footballer caught with 14 MDMA tablets at a local pub was hoping to receive a community corrections order from the court, but was instead jailed for a year to be served within the community.
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Braydon Wicks, 22, of Ignatius Place in Kelso, this week appeared before magistrate Catherine Follent in Bathurst Local Court charged with supplying a prohibited drug.
Wicks had been caught with 14 MDMA tablets in his cap during a police operation at the Elephant and Castle Hotel in September last year.
Wicks' solicitor, James Horsburgh, told the court his client was a proud Indigenous man who worked full-time with Bathurst Regional Council.
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Mr Horsburgh said Wicks was heavily involved in the Panthers Rugby League Club as a player and also assisting juniors and refereeing.
Mr Horsburgh said his client readily admits it was a terrible error of judgment, adding it was the first time he has ever been before a court and has "no record to speak of".
He said his client came into the possession of the drugs after being approached by a man in the toilets at the hotel offering to sell them.
He said at the time it was widely known to the rest of the patrons in the hotel that police were present with a drug handling dog.
Mr Horsburgh said it was his submission that Wicks' offence was at the lower end of objective seriousness.
For that reason he was seeking a Community Corrections Order on his client's behalf.
But police prosecutor Sergeant Brett Donaghy said a message of general deterrence had to be sent to the wider community.
He said the court needed to show the severe consequences of selling drugs in Bathurst to act as a deterrent.
"The indictable quantity is 1.25 grams - this was 2.6 on the facts, it's a significant amount the drug," he said.
Sgt Donaghy said the fact the accused had 14 tablets in a hotel at night indicated it wasn't for personal use, as suggested in the police facts.
Ms Follent agreed, saying she didn't accept the drugs were for his personal use.
Sgt Donaghy said drug supply was a prevalent offence in our society.
"The message has to be you cannot sell illegal drugs in the community," he said.
In sentencing, Ms Follent took into account Wicks' record and references, forming the view that his prospects for rehabilitation were good.
However, given the significant harm done by illegal drug suppliers, she sentenced Wicks to a 12-month intensive corrections order to be served in the community, along with 175 hours of community service.
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