A HORSHAM man charged with drug trafficking has been granted bail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jacob Cooke-Harrison, 25, faced Horsham Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The court heard that on March 23, police executed a search warrant at a residence in Natimuk Road, Horsham, and found drugs including cannabis and methamphetamine.
In his testimony, Senior Constable James Finch said police also located $1650 in cash and a mobile phone.
Cooke-Harrison was charged and bailed to appear in court.
Senior Constable Finch said police located a series of texts on Cooke-Harrison’s phone on May 3, and he was subsequently charged with trafficking cannabis and methamphetamine.
He said Cooke-Harrison was later found with cannabis, and arrested. His phone was seized.
Cooke-Harrison faced court charged with trafficking illicit drugs and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
The prosecution applied for bail to be refused, arguing Cooke-Harrison was at an unacceptable risk of committing further offences while on bail.
“The accused has breached his bail by being charged for trafficking cannabis, which shows he has little regard for his bail conditions,” Senior Constable Finch said.
Cooke-Harrison’s defence solicitor said that if his client was released on bail, he would live with his brother until he could be admitted to a rehabilitation centre in Gippsland.
The defence called four witnesses, including Cooke-Harrison’s brother Chris and members of the Horsham Saints Football Netball Club, with whom Cooke-Harrison had played for many years.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann said the risk of re-offending was a critical consideration when sentencing.
“Drug trafficking is a very serious offence, and it has particular ramifications in country towns,” he said.
“You have been on bail and very quickly gone about conduct that has brought you back before the court.
“I will grant bail subject to stringent conditions, including that you must reside with your brother. There will be thrice a week reporting at Horsham Police Station.”
Mr Stratmann also imposed a curfew between 10pm and 7am. He said Cooke-Harrison could not leave his residence between those times unless accompanied by his brother.
Mr Stratmann also ordered Cooke-Harrison to surrender his passport.
“You’re on ice that’s about a micron thick,” he said.
“If you breach those conditions, your chance of getting bail again are about that much.”
Cooke-Harrison was remanded to reappear in court in July.