Dealer’s bitter pill

‘What a knucklehead’

A 20-YEAR-OLD Highton man was branded a “knucklehead” by a magistrate after being found with 21 ecstasy tablets in the CBD.

James McKenzie yesterday pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, resisting arrest and being drunk in a public place.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard McKenzie was spotted standing near friends who were urinating on a Moorabool St shopfront on June 3.

Police prosecutor Kerrie Moroney said McKenzie became increasingly aggressive while officers attempted to fine his friends about 10.30pm.

“The accused was leaning on the front passenger side window (of the police vehicle) and was asked several times to move away from the vehicle,” Leading Senior Constable Moroney said.

“He later resisted arrest and was restrained. A pat-down search found a clear resealable bag with 21 pink and white MDMA tablets under his jumper.”

Sen-Constable Moroney said McKenzie told police the drugs were for personal use during an interview in the early hours of June 4 and that he took up to 15 tablets a night.

But the court heard evidence of trafficking was found on his mobile phone.

Sen-Constable Moroney said McKenzie told police he had been drinking alcohol before his arrest.

“(In his interview he said) I had three longnecks and a Canadian Club before I came into the city. I was tipsy but not drunk.”

After hearing a summary of McKenzie’s offending Magistrate Ann McGarvie said: “What a knucklehead”.

She said if it were not for McKenzie’s “aggressive and belligerent” behaviour he would have gone undetected.

McKenzie was fined $800 and put on a 12-month good behaviour bond.