A MAN caught trying to flush his cocaine down the toilet when he saw police drug dogs enter a hotel has been convicted and fined $500.
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Brendan Patrick Cox, 25, of Howick Street, Bathurst, appeared before magistrate Follent in Bathurst Local Court.
Police facts tendered to the court told how Cox, a carpenter, was caught with two grams of cocaine on September 21 at the Bridge Hotel, Perthville.
The court heard police attached to the Chifley Police District were conducting a licensing operation in the Bathurst area, using a drug detection dog and plain clothes and uniformed officers.
Police and the drug detection dog entered the Bridge Hotel at 7.55pm at the same time as plain clothes police entered the beer garden.
Police said they saw Cox being spoken to by another person. Police overheard the conversation, which was a warning that police were at the hotel with a dog.
Cox was seen moving quickly to the toilets and police suspected he might be in possession of a prohibited drug.
Police intercepted Cox before he entered the toilet and, upon speaking to him and informing him his conversation had been overheard, he said, “[expletive], you've got me”, according to the police facts.
Police explained to Cox that he would be searched and he removed two small resealable bags from his pocket.
Police activated their body-worn video, told Cox they were doing so and cautioned him. They questioned Cox in relation to the bags, which he admitted contained one gram of cocaine each.
Cox appeared remorseful for his actions and was co-operative with officers, according to police.
When asked where he got the cocaine, Cox indicated he had obtained it in Bathurst and paid $600 for it, but declined to provide further information about where he obtained it and from whom, according to the police facts.
References tendered to the court said Cox was a kind and generous person and an excellent tradesman with a strong work ethic.