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AFL coach and premiership player Mark "Bomber" Thompson has been fined $3,000 for drug possession, but has had a drug trafficking charge against him dismissed.
Key points:
- The magistrate dismissed the trafficking charges, but found the possession charges to be proven
- Thompson admitted to taking drugs but denied selling them
- His legal team argued drugs found in a police raid on his home belonged to a convicted drug trafficker who had moved in with him
The football legend was facing multiple drug possession and drug trafficking charges, after methamphetamine and MDA were allegedly found in his Port Melbourne home during a 2018 raid.
Today, Magistrate Duncan Reynolds dismissed the trafficking charges but found the possession charges proven.
Thompson last month admitted to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court he was a "drug-taker" but denied being a dealer.
Police allegedly found 33 grams of methamphetamine, 481 MDA pills, an LSD tab, four smoking pipes and scales in his home.
The quantities of MDA and methamphetamine are multiple times the minimum amount required to be charged with trafficking.
Thompson has also been placed on a 12-month community corrections order, requiring him to undergo drug assessment and treatment and mental health programs.
Thompson's defence lawyer, Mick Milardovic, told the court his client had no prior convictions for drug possession and had led a "very illustrious" career in football.
"Evidence that he gave was very poignant and very damaging to his public profile," Mr Milardovic said.
"The media attention has been overwhelming.
"He made admissions to using drugs, which is very significant. My submission is that goes a long way to suggesting remorse."
The magistrate acknowledged the amount of drugs seized was higher than the minimum for trafficking, but said police had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that Thompson intended to sell the drugs.
Police call for criminal conviction
Thompson's defence team previously argued it made no sense for the former footballer to traffic drugs given his public profile and wealth.
"I'm a drug taker," Thompson had told the court.
"But I never had any intention of selling drugs."
Mr Milardovic said his client had embarked on new career projects, including making furniture from recycled materials and being involved in a medical venture in "hydrogen inhalers".
He said his client had the ability to pay a financial penalty, but the magistrate suggested the amount of drugs found in Thompson's home meant a community corrections order was also necessary.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Tom Roberts called for a criminal conviction.
The magistrate agreed with the prosecution that the sheer quantity of drugs meant a criminal conviction was appropriate.
'I took drugs to mask the pain'
Thompson stepped in as senior coach of the Essendon Football Club after James Hird was suspended for 12 months over the drug supplements saga.
But Thompson said he was in a "bad way" when he was dropped to make way for Hird's return.
Thompson invited convicted drug trafficker Thomas Windsor to move into his home in December 2017, telling the court he was "happy to talk to someone".
Thompson's legal team argued the drugs were owned by Windsor.
"It was a difficult time," Thompson told the court last month.
"I took drugs to mask the pain."
Thomas Windsor had already pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, relating to 29.7 grams of the 33 grams seized.
Thompson told the court that before the police raid, Windsor had asked him to hold onto the MDA and methamphetamine.
The hearing is continuing.
Topics: australian-football-league, sport, drugs-and-substance-abuse, community-and-society, drug-offences, crime, law-crime-and-justice, melbourne-3000, vic
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