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Olympic kayaker Nathan Baggaley 'extremely embarrassed' over involvement in drug manufacturing syndicate
Olympic kayaker Nathan Baggaley has told a Sydney court he is remorseful and "extremely embarrassed" about his involvement in a drug manufacturing syndicate.
Baggaley, 39, was arrested by Australian Federal Police in November 2013 for helping to produce 18,000 tablets of the psychedelic drug 2cb and planning to produce methamphetamine.
Police said two clandestine drug laboratories were set up, at Tweed Heads and on the Gold Coast.
At his sentencing hearing, the New South Wales District Court heard that the Olympic silver medallist had been targeted by other inmates in jail.
In one incident, Baggaley had been hospitalised and given stiches after he was punched and rendered unconscious, his barrister Greg James QC said.
"I've had my dramas in jail," Baggaley said during sentencing submissions.
"I'm obviously a profile person due to my sporting background and, yeah, it does attract a lot of attention," he said.
"It is possible it could happen again."
Crimes were an act of desperation, court hears
Baggaley described his role in the drug operation as "a gofer" and said his crimes were "an act of desperation" and "a last resort".
"I'm extremely embarrassed to be honest," he said.
Nathan Baggaley's younger brother Dru, 33, is also facing jail time for his involvement in the syndicate.
Nathan Baggaley
PHOTO: Nathan Baggaley said he had been targeted in jail because he was a high-profile sportsman.
He too apologised in court for his actions and said he felt "ashamed" and "regretful".
Mr James told the court that at the time the syndicate started making thousands of tablets of 2cb, the drug had been legal.
It was outlawed a short time later.
"In regards to 2cb, I had... [the] stupid belief that if a drug was legal, it must be safe," Dru Baggaley said.
"That is not in fact that case."
The brothers became involved in making drugs in order to raise money for Dru, for reasons which were not revealed in court.
Pair to work on family's oyster farm on release, parents say
Their parents, Noel and Susan Baggaley, also took the stand briefly and described how they would support their sons and their rehabilitation upon release from prison.
Upon release, the boys would live with their parents and work for the family's oyster farm, the court heard.
"I'm a very proactive woman and these boys just don't know what they're in for," Ms Baggaley said.
The brothers, both dressed in suits, sat side-by-side in the dock during the proceedings.
They have been remanded in custody and are due to face court on December 14 for sentencing.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-20/nathan-baggaley-sentencing-hearing/6960530
Olympic kayaker Nathan Baggaley has told a Sydney court he is remorseful and "extremely embarrassed" about his involvement in a drug manufacturing syndicate.
Baggaley, 39, was arrested by Australian Federal Police in November 2013 for helping to produce 18,000 tablets of the psychedelic drug 2cb and planning to produce methamphetamine.
Police said two clandestine drug laboratories were set up, at Tweed Heads and on the Gold Coast.
At his sentencing hearing, the New South Wales District Court heard that the Olympic silver medallist had been targeted by other inmates in jail.
In one incident, Baggaley had been hospitalised and given stiches after he was punched and rendered unconscious, his barrister Greg James QC said.
"I've had my dramas in jail," Baggaley said during sentencing submissions.
"I'm obviously a profile person due to my sporting background and, yeah, it does attract a lot of attention," he said.
"It is possible it could happen again."
Crimes were an act of desperation, court hears
Baggaley described his role in the drug operation as "a gofer" and said his crimes were "an act of desperation" and "a last resort".
"I'm extremely embarrassed to be honest," he said.
Nathan Baggaley's younger brother Dru, 33, is also facing jail time for his involvement in the syndicate.
Nathan Baggaley
PHOTO: Nathan Baggaley said he had been targeted in jail because he was a high-profile sportsman.
He too apologised in court for his actions and said he felt "ashamed" and "regretful".
Mr James told the court that at the time the syndicate started making thousands of tablets of 2cb, the drug had been legal.
It was outlawed a short time later.
"In regards to 2cb, I had... [the] stupid belief that if a drug was legal, it must be safe," Dru Baggaley said.
"That is not in fact that case."
The brothers became involved in making drugs in order to raise money for Dru, for reasons which were not revealed in court.
Pair to work on family's oyster farm on release, parents say
Their parents, Noel and Susan Baggaley, also took the stand briefly and described how they would support their sons and their rehabilitation upon release from prison.
Upon release, the boys would live with their parents and work for the family's oyster farm, the court heard.
"I'm a very proactive woman and these boys just don't know what they're in for," Ms Baggaley said.
The brothers, both dressed in suits, sat side-by-side in the dock during the proceedings.
They have been remanded in custody and are due to face court on December 14 for sentencing.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-20/nathan-baggaley-sentencing-hearing/6960530
