Our client doubled his money in a licensed VIP gaming venue. Not at the gaming machines but at the cash disbursement machine which dispenses your winnings.

When our client fed his winning ticket into the cash disbursement machine to collect his dividend, it spat out twice the cash he was expecting.

Pub staff had mistakenly put the $100 cash notes in the dispenser container programmed to dispense $50 notes, and $50 notes in the $100 container. Any win below $1000 is normally paid in $50 notes. Wins of more than $1000 are paid in $100 notes. So, our client entered his winning ticket for $500 (he should have been paid 10 x $50 notes) and was instead paid $1000 (10 x $100 notes).

The effect of this staff error was that our client, a problem gambler, had his addiction triggered by his first “win”. He went to and fro between the gaming machines and the cash disbursement machine on multiple occasions, doubling his money.

On one occasion, when the payout was due to be more than $1000, the cash disbursement machine paid in $50 notes, thereby halving his expected payout.

In his mind, the cash disbursement machine had now taken on all the characteristics of a gaming machine in that it provided wins and losses.

Our client faced a total of 12 criminal charges and the prospect of real jail time. He was remanded in custody in Parklea Prison where he was subject to violence and predation.

We assisted to arrange accommodation and then ran a successful bail application to return him to freedom pending the court outcomes.

The charges were: use carriage service to menace/harass/offend; six counts of stalk/intimidate/intend fear or physical harm; behave in an offensive manner near a school; destroy or damage property; resist police; assault police officer in execution of duty; and intimidate police officer in execution of duty.

During interviews with our client, we identified the need for psychological evaluation. We arranged an assessment with an eminent clinical psychologist.

We used the report to make an application under the relevant mental health legislation to have our client dealt with in the health system and not in the criminal justice system.

The Magistrate said that he rarely granted such mental health applications but he did so on this occasion for our client.

All criminal charges against our client were dismissed. Our client consented to the health treatment orders and clinical supervision and is now prospering.

A suburban mum and dad caught up in a dial-a-dealer drug network faced a host of drug and cash related charges after being pounced on during a NSW Police operation. They had been lured into courier work by a Snapchat post and then felt they couldn’t back out from the deal.

After thoroughly reviewing the couples’ finances and conducting in-depth interviews, it became clear that they were unwitting foot soldiers in a very sophisticated drug distribution network. It was a case of need over greed as they struggled to feed and house their young family.

Their involvement in the dial-a-dealer operation was minimal and their rewards negligible but they instructed us they were involved in wrongdoing.

On this basis, we made representations to police. The proposition was that in return for a guilty plea to charges of supply a prohibited drug and deal with proceeds of crime, a charge of possess cocaine would be taken off the charge sheet and the more serious charge of knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime would be withdrawn.

Police accepted these representations and in doing so, the prospect of our client’s being sentenced to a custodial term was greatly reduced.

Our client had been before the Courts once before and received the leniency of a section 10 non-conviction for offending related to misuse of alcohol. Despite being given a second chance, our client found herself in trouble again.

Conventional wisdom dictates that the Courts are reluctant to extend the benefit of a second non-conviction ruling if an offender comes before the Court again.

The reasonable view is that if a person is given a second chance to preserve their reputation and record and fail to respect the Court’s gesture, they will have to face the consequences if they reappear.

Our client was before the courts again charged with common assault by NSW Police. Alcohol was again an issue.

Following a plea of guilty, we persuaded the Magistrate that our client had already had significant extra-curial punishment visited upon her.

She had been publicly arrested and suffered the humiliation of being involuntarily scheduled into hospital, where she was detained for almost 24 hours.

Sufficient medical evidence was provided to reassure the Magistrate that steps were being taken by our client to address alcohol misuse, including a medical regime and counselling.

With some trepidation, the Magistrate gave our client a third chance. A second non-conviction was recorded and a stern warning as to what would await our client if she came before the courts again.