02:04 EDT, 11 May 2021
A soap star accused of masterminding a Byron Bay cocaine syndicate once spent time in a Papua New Guinea prison on drug charges after a surfing trip went wrong.
Putu Winchester-Stanton was one of seven men arrested after police raided homes across the New South Wales far north coast on April 22.
The 44-year-old tattooed surfer has remained behind bars since his arrest and was formally refused bail again in Byron Bay Local Court on Monday.
Winchester-Stanton was born in Bali, raised in Bondi and moved to Byron after his big break starring in Heartbreak High came to an end in 1999.
Former Home and Away actor among seven men charged with drug offences in Byron Bay
We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
Dismiss
Normal text size
Former
Home and Away actor Putu Winchester-Stanton is among seven men charged with drug offences following two separate investigations into the ongoing supply of cocaine in Byron Bay.
Following inquiries last October, police executed four search warrants at a Byron Bay business and at homes in Byron Bay, Bangalow and Mullumbimby about 1pm on April 22.
Former Home and Away actor Putu Winchester-Stanton, 44 (wearing red shorts) was charged with 10 offences including supplying commercial quantity prohibited drugs and knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group.
Crime by Luke Mortimer and Janet Fife-Yeomans 11th May 2021 5:52 AM
Premium Content POLICE have charged seven men with a raft of offences after allegedly seizing cash and hundreds of grams of cocaine during home and business raids in northern New South Wales. NSW Police said in a statement officers attached to the North Coast Region Enforcement Squad (RES) launched Strike Force Kelly and Tulipa last October to investigate the supply of cocaine in the Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Bangalow area. Former Home and Away star Putu Winchester-Stanton was among those arrested, The Daily Telegraph reported. It s alleged extensive inquiries resulted in four search warrants being carried out at a Byron Bay business and at homes in Byron, Bangalow and Mullumbimby on April 22.
A police officer will appear in Byron Bay Local Court in June after he allegedly accessed restricted data.
An internal investigation was launched in November following reports a male senior constable – attached to a specialist command in the Northern Region – allegedly accessed restricted data from the New South Wales Police computer system in August 2020.
Following inquiries, a senior constable was issued a Court Attendance Notice on Monday, for the offence of cause unauthorised for access to restricted data held in a computer system contrary to Section 308H Crime Act (NSW) 1900.
He is expected to appear in Byron Bay Local Court on Monday June 7.
ABOUT US
NBNNEWS.COM.AU | Delivering the highest quality local news, sport and weather, NBN News has played an important role in the lives of people across northern New South Wales for decades. Our talented team of journalists, producers and camera operators bringing you the stories that matter, seven days a week, 365 days a year, across both television and digital.
FOLLOW US