’Black sheep’ cops drug fine

A “PARTY animal” sex shop owner has been given a hefty fine after pleading guilty to a string of drug possession charges.

Police raided Phillip Kelly’s Naughty Gifts sex shop in South Geelong last year.

Officers found drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, hashish and ice throughout the sex shop and in Kelly’s adjoining home.

Police seized 27 grams of hashish, 7.8 grams of cocaine, 1.9 grams of ice, 2.4 grams of heroin and five blister packs of anxiety medication.

Leading Senior Constable Kerrie Moroney said police also found Samurai swords and a set of knuckle dusters.

Kelly was arrested and during a later interview refused to make any comment.

While on bail for these charges, Kelly was stopped by police while driving along the Bellarine Highway, Newcomb, who found eight ecstasy tablets in his car.

Yesterday, Kelly pleaded guilty to the possession charges. Police dropped trafficking charges.

Kelly’s lawyer, Ramon Fowler, said his client was a successful small business owner who employed eight people and contributed to the community.

Mr Fowler said while Kelly was “the black sheep” of his strong Catholic family, he was “not the blackest sheep this court has seen”.

He said Kelly worked as a surveyor while running the sex GEELONG’S Davorn Inthavong-Jones and her son Dominic are gearing up to celebrate Thai New Year.

The Thai community’s New Year — Songkran — celebrations start today.

Songkran is the Thai New Year’s national holiday, and the word “Songkran” is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning astrological passage. shop and co-located hydroponics and furniture store.

“He admits he loves to party and some would say he is the life of the party,” Mr Fowler said.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said it was concerning that Kelly had been found with a wide range of drugs, particularly given he was caught with drugs in 2016.

Mr Mellas said he feared the seized drugs were just “the tip of the iceberg” and linked to Kelly’s alternative lifestyle.

“You are no doubt someone who likes to party,” he said.

Mr Mellas said Kelly’s decision not to seek treatment was fraught with danger.

“There are obviously issues you need to address,” he said.

Mr Mellas fined Kelly $4000.