An actor who starred in Home And Away and Heartbreak High has pleaded guilty to supplying more than 470g of cocaine in the idyllic Byron Bay area.
Putu Sugiarta Winchester-Stanton beamed into Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Friday to be arraigned for trial over two counts of supplying cocaine in 2021.
The court heard that discussions between his lawyer and the crown prosecution had “reached a happy conclusion” after more than two years before the court.
Crown prosecutor Karen Vaughan confirmed the charge of supplying less than a commercial quantity of cocaine would be reduced to a related charge.
Winchester-Stanton subsequently pleaded guilty to the remaining charge of supplying more than a commercial quantity of cocaine.
Six related charges of supplying an indictable and commercial amount of a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited drug will be also considered during his sentencing.
Court documents reveal the 45-year-old supplied 476g of cocaine in the regional area of Mullumbimby between January 21 and April 22.
The former Water Rats actor was arrested in April 2020 after a series of police raids over the supply of cocaine in the Byron Bay area.
The court heard he did not completely agree with the police version of his drug supply.
“There are some areas which are in dispute,” Ms Vaughan said.
“There are some areas where the parties will ask your honour to make determinations about the (drug) transactions.”
The court heard the former soap star had been due to face a seven day trial in the District Court later this year which has now been vacated.
He kept a straight face as he formally entered his plea before Judge Warwick Hunt on Friday.
The former Home And Away actor beamed into court via audiovisual link from his lawyer’s office in Lismore.
He did not react except to sigh deeply after admitting to the offence.
The ex-teen heart-throb will return to court in May to face his fate over the drug supply.
Winchester-Stanton shot to fame in 1997 on the hit Australian show Heartbreak High.
He cemented his place as a household name when he starred in Home And Away and Water Rats in 2000.
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