"YOU are a frustration," a 32-year-old has been told as he appeared in Bathurst Local Court on a drug possession charge.
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The man had previously been referred by the court to the Magistrates' Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) alcohol and drug program, but his solicitor confirmed he had not taken part in the program.
"The court referred you to MERIT. I have got nothing from MERIT, which means they did not hear from you," Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis told Jack Alan Wright.
It is "a valuable resource", Ms Ellis said.
"You did not take it up. I'm not going to continue to waste that resource," she said.
"Sorry, Your Honour," Wright said.
Wright, 32, of Cummings Street, West Bathurst, was in Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 to answer a charge of possessing a prohibited drug.
Police documents before the court said Wright was riding a pushbike on Gilmour Street in Kelso on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 and was not wearing a helmet when police saw him.
They stopped to speak with him, obtained his details, checked his history on police systems and asked where he had left.
Wright said he had come from a Cummings Street house in West Bathurst and was heading to Kelso to buy a pushbike, according to the police documents.
Because Wright was already riding a pushbike, police said they asked how he was going to get the second pushbike home and he said he was going to ride his bike and have the other bike next to him.
Police said they were suspicious about the story.
With police body-worn video activated, Wright was searched and a small resealable bag of crystal substance was found, according to the police documents.
It was later confirmed at Bathurst Police Station by a TruNarc machine to be methamphetamine.
Police said it was weighed inside the resealable bag at a net weight of 0.60g.
They said they cautioned and questioned Wright, who denied knowing the bag was inside his wallet.
During the search, police said a straw/tube-like item was also located and manipulated in a fashion that is often seen used in the administration of methamphetamine.
Wright was arrested, taken to Bathurst Police Station and offered the chance to be interviewed, but declined.
In court
Wright was represented by Legal Aid solicitor Simone Thackray, who confirmed that her client did not get involved with the MERIT program.
She said he was "hoping to get involved with MERIT", but "unfortunately, it did not come to fruition".
Ms Thackray did say, however, that her client was under Community Corrections supervision as part of a previous order imposed by the court.
In asking for the court to impose a fine or a Community Correction Order (used for crimes that do not warrant imprisonment or an Intensive Correction Order, but are too serious to be dealt with by a fine or lower level penalty), Ms Thackray said her client was already under an Intensive Correction Order (a custodial sentence of up two years that the court decides can be served in the community).
Having explained her frustration that Wright had not taken up the opportunity to be part of the MERIT program, Ms Ellis told him he was "well and truly on notice".
"You have a problem with drugs," she said.
Ms Ellis said he wasn't just a frustration to the court, but "probably to yourself as well".
For possessing a prohibited drug, Ms Ellis convicted Wright and fined him $800.
