Dance leads to tears in court

A MAN cried as a court was told yesterday how he was caught dancing on the median strip of the Gold Coast Hwy at Broadbeach before collapsing and later telling police he had taken fantasy.

Rex Klaus Rochow, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a relevant substance.

The substance was an industrial solvent which, when ingested, metabolises in the body into the drug GHB.

Rochow believed the substance was fantasy.

He cried throughout the 10minute appearance in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday, barely able to answer questions put to him by Magistrate Mark Howden.

Mr Howden placed him on a good behaviour bond for four months.

“You have had a night out and come to the attention of police and now you have had to come to court for the first time,” he said.

Mr Howden told Rochow a drug conviction was “the last thing” he needed.

“I know,” Rochow said tearfully.

Rochow was dressed in a tailored blue jacket with white edging and spoke quietly.

He was heard sniffling throughout the case.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Nick Wang told the court police were driving down the highway when they saw Rochow dancing on the median strip. He said when police stopped, Rochow collapsed and paramedics were called.

“He said he had liquid fantasy,” Sen Const Wang said.

The court heard Rochow produced a small bottle of the drug and said he had consumed about a quarter of the contents. The total amount of liquid was 6.6ml.

Sen Const Wang said police spoke to Rochow in hospital and later after he was arrested.

Police originally believed it to be the drug GHB but further testing revealed the drug was 1,4-butanediol, an industrial solvent that metabolises into GHB when ingested.

Defence lawyer Joshua Boorman, of Boorman Lawyers, said Rochow had been out drinking in Broadbeach when he met up with a friend who offered him the drug.

IT WAS AN IMPULSIVE DECISION TO TOUCH THE DRUG THAT NIGHT. DEFENCE LAWYER JOSHUA BOORMAN FOR ROCHOW

“He told my client it was fantasy and my client was drunk at the time,” Mr Boorman said. “It was an impulsive decision to touch the drug that night.”

He said Rochow began to walk home in Mermaid Waters when he started to feel the effects of the drug.

Mr Boorman said Rochow lived with his 66-year-old mother and helped her care for a child. He said when Rochow was 14 he found his mother after she had overdosed and had to help resuscitate her.

He said Rochow also did charity work across the Gold Coast. Rochow had no criminal history. No conviction was recorded.