ICE IN UNDIES CLAIM

Accused had 25 grams of meth for ‘personal use’, court told

A WHITTINGTON man allegedly caught by police with up to $25,000 worth of methamphetamine stuffed in his underpants has been refused bail.

Daniel Vautier, 32, was denied bail by Geelong magistrate Ann McGarvie yesterday, appearing on charges of trafficking metham- phetamines, theft.

Lawyer Tim Sullivan told the court his client planned to defend the trafficking charge by contending the 25.4 grams of ice allegedly found in his underpants was for personal use.

Ms McGarvie said the idea that 25g of ice was for personal use was “ludicrous”.

Police informant Detective Senior Constable Len Clarke burglary and said police alleged Mr Vautier was caught trying to steal items from the construction site of a Geelong house on July 16.

Sen-Constable Clarke said the owner of the home was walking past at the time and noticed the front door was open, then found Mr Vautier in the back yard holding items from the shed.

Mr Vautier allegedly told the owner he was a carpenter and had permission to be on the site from the boss, before dropping the items and leaving, Sen-Constable Clarke said.

The owner reported the incident to police, and 20 minutes later Mr Vautier was arrested on Western Beach Rd where he was found to have $500 in cash and keys to a Volkswagen, Sen-Constable Clarke said.

The court heard Mr Vauti- er was taken to the Geelong police station where he was allegedly found to have a large ziplock bag in his underwear, containing 25.4 grams of methamphetamine.

Police prosecutor SenConstable Chris Capuano said the street value for a “point” (0.1 gram) of ice was $50 to $100 — making the total value of the 25.4 grams somewhere from $12,700 to $25,400.

Police opposed Mr Vautier’s bail application as he posed an “unacceptable risk” of reoffending.

Mr Vautier’s lawyer said his client had a “long standing addiction to ice”, and planned to defend the charge of trafficking by contending it was for personal use.

Ms McGarvie denied Mr Vautier bail and warned him that he faced a “considerable term of imprisonment”.