A man once striving to become South Australia's next premier has been convicted of drug supply charges in the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Former South Australian Liberal leader David Speirs has also been ordered to undertake community service and pay a fine.
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00:00The former Liberal leader remained tight-lipped as he left court, convicted of drug offences.
00:08How do you feel about being a convicted criminal?
00:10David Spears has also been fined $9,000 in order to serve just over 37 hours of community service
00:17after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine to two people on two occasions in August last year.
00:23The sentence comes after months of speculation when the 40-year-old resigned from Parliament following his arrest in September.
00:30Last month, his lawyers told the court his drug use was a form of escapism from the stress of the job.
00:36In sentencing, Magistrate Brian Nitschke condemned Spears's actions,
00:40saying given his former position, he should understand the seriousness of the crime.
00:45He said,
00:53But you did commit these offences having been a Member of Parliament for a number of years,
00:58and whilst you occupied the important parliamentary position of Leader of the Opposition,
01:03you would have well appreciated the criminality and public mischief of your offending.
01:08Spears's lawyers had said the widespread media attention had already served as a form of extra punishment,
01:14and it was therefore unnecessary to record a conviction.
01:17But today, the Magistrate disagreed with that argument.
01:20He said,
01:21The offending is too serious, the need for public denunciation for this type of offending,
01:26and the need for general deterrence is too great to refrain from recording a conviction.
01:31Liberal Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia has released a statement saying
01:35South Australians expect their MPs to do the right thing,
01:38and the process shows nobody is above the law.
01:41He says,
01:42Those elected to public office should be setting an example,
01:45and that is the firm expectation that the Liberal Party has of its candidates and the parliamentary team.
01:51A long ordeal for a man who was once a potential Premier, and now convicted criminal.
01:57He says,
02:01At the level of Liverpool takesód slipping and warned them of the officer's people who did a larger court note
02:10in the Wilder press mÃnimo,
02:13And the local government and for 35th to 48th to 48th.
02:17His election was admitted to the Keeper Gangel that in 12ich Cook.