A Nomads bikie has told a Canberra court his drug habit forced him to turn to "humiliating" sex work, after police found him with $31,000 in cash and a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine.
Alexander Victor Miller, of Kingston, is defending a drug trafficking charge after police allegedly found 15 grams of methamphetamine and a large amount of cash in mixed denominations while speaking to him last Friday about reportedly stolen number plates on a car.
Police documents tendered to the ACT Magistrates Court allege that Mr Miller became emotional as police enquired about the car, admitting that he had "ice" and a pipe in his bag, but that it was a personal amount.
"It's just f***ed because I have bling, ice, in my bag … and I'm gonna get done," Mr Miller allegedly told police.
"I dunno how much there is, a mate spooned it in."
Bikie used meth daily, says cash was legitimately earned
At a bail hearing yesterday, defence lawyer Kate Gunther argued the drugs were for personal use, the amount was at the lower end of a trafficable quantity and that he did not have scales, bags or other items typically associated with trafficking.
She said the 29-year-old Nomads sergeant-at-arms used drugs daily and though he found sex work "demeaning", it was legitimate work to fund his "debilitating" addiction to meth.
She said he was forced to turn to sex work after he lost his job as a truck driver due to losing his licence over a driving conviction.
"Sex work is not his passion, as you might expect; he does not enjoy it," Ms Gunther said.
Mr Miller was able to verify that $20,000 of the cash found in his bag was from his girlfriend, who had withdrawn it earlier that day.
He argued the remaining $11,000 was legitimately obtained from sex work.
Police said enquiries in relation to the legitimacy of the large sum of cash were ongoing, as well as the possession of the reportedly stolen licence plates.
However, Mr Miller's bail was refused after the prosecution argued there was a significant risk he would reoffend, that he was already on bail over a driving offence and had previously been convicted of drug offences.
In refusing bail, Magistrate Louise Taylor said Mr Miller also had an "appalling" history of failing to comply with court orders.
He will reappear in court later this month.
