Roofing apprentice convicted of cocaine dealing gets community service instead
Keiran Burton-Collie, 21, pleaded guilty to cocaine dealing and received community service instead of jail.
Police were patrolling the Wollongong CBD about 11.30pm on September 18 when they saw Burton-Collie acting suspiciously. Burton-Collie had bags of cocaine and $900 in cash, making $50 commission on each $250 sale.
Burton-Collie admitted to police he had lost track of how many bags were in the tube he carried. The 14.19 grams of cocaine led to charges for drug supply and handling proceeds of crime.
In court, his lawyer said the roofing apprentice had tried cocaine to fit in with a crowd, became addicted, and fell into debt selling drugs to survive. Judge Williams spared him jail time, citing his youth, lack of prior convictions, and his autism and ADHD diagnoses.
Instead, Burton-Collie was given a one-year community correction order with 75 hours of unpaid community service.
- 21
- Burton-Collie's age
- 14.19 grams
- Cocaine found
- $50
- Commission per $250 sale
- 75 hours
- Community service hours ordered
Why it mattersJudge Williams spared him jail despite serious drug charges, citing his youth, lack of prior convictions, and his autism and ADHD diagnoses.
AustraliaA young Wollongong man avoids prison for drug dealing, reflecting how Australian courts weigh rehabilitation and health factors over punishment for young offenders.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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