General News
18 August, 2024
Horsham drug trafficker avoids jail time by the 'thinnest of margins'
Police locate ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine during a home search.
A Horsham man in possession of five different types of drugs has narrowly avoided incarceration by "the thinnest of margins".
Zac Featherstone, 26, appeared before the Horsham Magistrates' Court on Thursday, August 8, where he pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including trafficking ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine and possessing oxycodone, diazepam and nicotine vapes.
The police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Ryan Luscombe told the court Horsham police executed a search warrant on Featherstone's home on March 1, 2024.
"During the search, officers seized a phone and a quantity of drugs," Act Sgt Luscombe said.
"A forensics search of the phone by police found evidence of trafficking."
Overall, 119 ecstasy tablets, 67.7g of ketamine, 2.46g of cocaine, 100mg of oxycontin, two diazepam tablets and 93 nicotine vapes were located in Featherstone's bedroom.
"Police also found $1210 in cash," Act Sgt Luscombe told the court.
Featherstone was taken to the Horsham police station and interviewed but declined to comment.
On August 8, the defence counsel said Featherstone "admitted drugs were an issue" and he did not have "a good prior history".
"My client has sought counselling and has not used drugs since his arrest," they told the court.
The defence counsel said Featherstone was found guilty of drug dealing in 2021 and fined "a considerable amount".
Magistrate Costa Kilias adjourned the matter to allow Featherstone to undergo an assessment for a community corrections order but warned the accused he faced a "real risk of jail".
The matter returned to court on Thursday, August 15, where Mr Kilias told the court Featherstone had taken "positive steps in the journey" of rehabilitation.
The magistrate said the lack of "therapeutic intervention" tipped his decision from incarceration to rehabilitation.
"You have avoided jail by the thinnest of margins," Mr Kilias told the court.
The magistrate imposed an 18-month community corrections order on Featherstone, which included 180 hours of unpaid community service.
Featherstone must also engage in behaviour programs, judicial monitoring and drug testing.
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