AN Albion Park man caught selling drugs at Wollongong's Glasshouse Tavern last December did so in the hope it would boost his popularity among his peers, a court has heard.
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Brandon Child, 20, was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond in the district court on Monday after presiding Judge Paul Conlon found his overall involvement in peddling the ecstasy and acid pills could not be classified as substantial drug dealing.
The court heard Child had been an outsider most of his life, suffering teasing at school about his weight problem, and simply wanted to fit in. Child's lawyer, Graeme Morrison, said his client had gone into the business of dealing in the hope he would become popular, noting he was only making a profit of about $1.50 to $2 per pill.
"Though there was a profit motivation in it, I would submit it was not the major reason [for his conduct]," Mr Morrison said.
"People were following him, giving him attention ... it was one way to increase his popularity."
Child told the court he was sorry for his behaviour, acknowledging that he realised the "friends" he was making at the time were not true friends and simply wanted something from him.
Judge Conlon accepted the conduct was out of character for Child and he'd been motivated by a desire for a better social standing.
He acknowledged details contained in a psychologist's report saying Child's offending had been linked to his low levels of self esteem and that he never wanted to be involved with drugs again.