A manager and bartender from the Newcastle region have pleaded guilty to supplying drugs to patrons in the hotel.
On the evening of 29 April, police with the Port Stephens Hunter Drug Unit allegedly observed Gareth Ian Wilkinson offering to sell 0.8g of cocaine for $300 to a patron of the Shoal Bay Country Club. The 42-year-old manager was off-duty at the time.
According to police statement of facts tendered in court, Wilkinson attempted to contact his supplier, who was reportedly on the premises, but when he couldn’t be found, gave the patron his phone number and suggested calling him the following day.
Dean Howard Denehy, also aged 42, was employed as a bartender and in the cellar.
Police saw him offering cocaine to patrons on two occasions, while he too was off-duty. The first involved what proved to be two bags containing 1.25g for $650, and later 1.67g for $600.
Subsequent laboratory analysis found the bags to contain cocaine of around 12, and 13.5 per cent purity (respectively).
Officers of the Port Stephens Hunter Drug Unit monitored and recorded the men offering the drugs to hotel guests, and both men were arrested on 14 July, along with 32-year-old Carissa Sharpe.
At his arrest, Denehy claimed he had no recollection of the night, nor knowledge of drug supply, however he is said to have later admitted to being in a picture shown to him of himself at the hotel.
The Port Stephens Examiner reports both men pleaded guilty to supplying drugs on the premises in Raymond Terrace Local Court, and are now on strict conditional bail. Sharpe reportedly pleaded not guilty to one count of supplying drugs.