A festival goer found with drugs he intended to sell at a Bendigo event has avoided conviction, but must do 200 hours of unpaid community work.
The 22-year-old was arrested at the Groovin The Moo music festival at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds on May 4 after he tried to re-enter the venue, having already left.
After yelling at police as he was escorted out by security, he was arrested and taken to the Bendigo police station, where he was found with a plastic bag containing several smaller ziplock bags in his underwear.
These contained six green alien head tablets, five bags with a crystal substance and five bags with a white substance.
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He also had two $50 notes and his phone contained numerous messages that indicated his intention to sell the drugs at the festival.
The TAFE student pleaded guilty at the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Monday to several charges, including trafficking ecstasy, methamphetamine and amphetamine, possessing ecstasy, methamphetamine and amphetamine, and being drunk and disorderly.
His defence lawyer, Tony Vriends, said the intended selling was between friends, although there was no evidence drugs were actually exchanged at the festival.
Mr Vriends asked magistrate John Bentley to not give his client a conviction because he was a youthful offender and entered his plea at the earliest opportunity.
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He said it would also restrict the man's ability to travel, which was particularly relevant given family ties to the United Kingdom.
Mr Bentley did not give the man a conviction, but placed him on a 15-month community corrections order with 200 hours of community work, drug treatment and random testing, and a ban from music festivals and nightclubs.
The magistrate said it was significant that it was the man's first time in court, but warned him that selling drugs - or poisons, as he called them - was unacceptable.
The drugs, cash and the man's phone were forfeited.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
