AFLW cocaine bust: What happened on the night two Swans stars were caught with drugs in one of Sydney’s trendiest suburbs
- Sydney Swans players were arrested by police on December 2 last year
- Alexia Hamilton and Paige Sheppard were found guilty of possession
- Document obtained by Ny Breaking Australia reveals details of the bust
EXCLUSIVE
The two AFLW stars caught with cocaine in the off-season were busted by police after scoring the drug from a dealer in a car outside a trendy Sydney beach bar, it can be revealed.
A police statement of facts obtained by Ny Breaking Australia outlines the series of events that saw Sydney Swans players Alexia Hamilton and Paige Sheppard ultimately plead guilty to possession of the drug during a trial on January 30.
Officers from Strike Force Northrop arrested the pair on December 2 last year after spotting Hamilton leaving the Clovelly Hotel in Sydney’s east and appearing to text someone on her phone.
Police statements reveal Swans star Alexia Hamilton (pictured) did most of the talking when she and her teammate Paige Sheppard were approached by police on December 2 last year
Sheppard (pictured right) and Hamilton spent about 15 seconds in a car, with Hamilton later admitting that she had bought drugs in the car
The two footy stars had been at the Clovelly Hotel (pictured) in Sydney’s exclusive eastern suburbs when police arrested them
She and Sheppard were seen getting into a Toyota at the bar shortly after 5.45pm and then exiting the vehicle ‘after a period of not more than 15 seconds’.
The officers showed the footy stars their badges and asked if they had just bought drugs in the car.
According to the document, Hamilton responded “yes,” at which point police activated their body-worn cameras and alerted the couple.
When asked if she had drugs on her at the time, Hamilton replied, “Yes, cocaine,” before confirming the drug had been purchased from the car, the affidavit states.
Officers then asked how much she paid for the drug and Hamilton replied “four hundred.”
“Shortly after the suspect (Hamilton) reached into her top and handed police a tissue containing two clear resealable bags and the co-suspect (Sheppard) handed police one clear resealable bag, which she removed from her top,” said the suspect. statement reads.
Hamilton (pictured playing for the Swans last season) was asked by police officers if she had any drugs and replied: “Yes, cocaine,” the statement said.
Hamilton told police words to the effect of, “I have two and she has one,” referring to Sheppard.
Police asked Sheppard how much cocaine she thought she had, and she replied, “I don’t know if I had any.”
The statements show that police found 0.6 grams of the drug on Sheppard and two grams on Hamilton.
Officers noted that Hamilton, 23, from Eastgardens, and Sheppard 22, from Randwick, ‘were cooperative throughout the interaction and made full admissions to the offense as quickly as possible’, and expressed genuine remorse.
The statements showed Sheppard (pictured in action for Sydney in 2022) had 0.6 grams of the drug, while Hamilton had two grams.
They were given a court attendance notice and allowed to leave the scene.
Hamilton and Sheppard’s offenses fall under section 10(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985.
They appeared in Waverley Local Court in Sydney’s east on January 30 this year and were each sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge, which is very similar to a good behavior bond, and no convictions were recorded.
Under the terms of the order, Hamilton and Sheppard must abstain from drugs for the 12-month period and commit no further offences.
The Swans have so far declined to comment on the matter.
Under the AFL’s illegal drugs policy, any player caught using illegal drugs will receive a first strike, a $5,000 suspended fine and counseling, and will be subject to targeted testing.
A second attack will result in the player being publicly named and banned for four matches.