Claire Reid
An Australian model has spoken about the ‘scary’ moment she was caught by sniffer dogs attempting to smuggle cocaine into a music festival.
Grace Evelyn, 24, was queuing to see DJ MaRLo at Sydney Olympic Park on 14 May when sniffer dogs started to bark around her.
When officers asked business student Grace if they could search her, she burst into tears and confessed to police that she was carrying a condom containing a small amount of cocaine inside her vagina.
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She told police the Class A drug was for her and her pals and admitted to having a small ‘bump’ before heading out to the gig.
Grace was then taken off to a private room where she strip searched and showed police the drugs, saying she had paid AUS$300 (£172/US$209).
According to records shown to the court, Grace had 5.6g of cocaine, but it wasn’t made clear if the weight of the condom was counted towards that total.
Grace was charged with supplying drugs - less than a commercial quantity - and later pleaded guilty in court. She avoided jail, but was given a 12-month conditional behaviour bond.
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Speaking to the Daily Mail, Grace insisted she’s a ‘nice girl’ and that this was the first time she’s ever been in trouble.
She said: “I have never been in trouble before, I was very scared so I said the wrong things. I am a nice girl, I never intended to supply. It was really scary!
“I was so shaken up and I just wanted to do the right thing and be nice.
“Obviously I wanted to have a little fun, I had a small amount and yes I tried to hide it - like everyone else - but I was caught.
“It was totally blown up and they tried to really f**k me up for it.
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“Their case was weak and the judge was so, so understanding and literally saw right through it.
“I have fun, but I am finishing my degree and want to do well.”
In a post on Instagram, Grace thanked her lawyer Ahmed Dib for the ‘amazing result’ and told her followers that she ‘highly recommends seeing them if you’re ever naughty or find yourself in trouble’.
Under New South Wales law, the maximum penalty for Grace’s offence is two years' in prison and/or a AUS$11,000 (£6,319/US$7,721) fine if dealt in at a local court - this can got up to a maximum sentence of 15 years and/or a AUS$220,000 (£126,456/US$154,428) fine if the case goes to district court.