SYDNEY ROOSTERS WING MAKES A BREAK AGAINST NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
SYDNEY ROOSTERS WING MAKES A BREAK AGAINST NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS IN NRL GRAND FINAL AT STADIUM AUSTRALIA. Reuters Photographer

Former Australian NRL player John Elias was fined after he had been caught with cocaine in his pocket at a hotel.

Elias was fined $500 after he was caught with cocaine at Balmain's Sackville Hotel. He pleaded guilty to one count of the possession of prohibited drugs after having been arrested on Anzac Day. According to Elias' barrister Ronald Driels, it is unlikely that the 51-year-old former footballer will get jailed for the charges against him, The Australian reported.

"He's not a young fellow anymore, he doesn't play football anymore," he said, "I shudder to say this but he's had a life which does him no credit, in many ways. He was put into Long Bay jail at 16 years old with people like (underworld murderer) Neddy Smith.

Even though Elias was a teenager when he was behind the bars for the first time, it was not his last. He spent one night in jail when he was 16. According to a police fact sheet, Elias was charged 20 times so far for various offences such as theft, violence as well as the possession of guns and drugs. Elias was unable to attend Downing Centre Local Court on Monday as he is serving time for a parole breach taken place in 2009.

Elias was caught with cocaine on Apr 25. According to court papers, Elias requested detectives to escort his to a less crowded place as he did not like to be "publicly humiliated." Thereafter, Elias was taken to an underground car park by officers. After performing a search, officers found a small bag of cocaine and $745 in his pocket. The small bag contained 0.9 grams of cocaine. Elias reportedly asked the officers not to lock him up as there would be "media frenzy." The former player was also charged for corruptly offering $500 to one of the officers so that the charges could be avoided. The initial charge has, however, been withdrawn while Elias pleaded not guilty to it.

According to Driels, the Sydney community was no stranger to cocaine. He argued that that it had been a part of the community for the past 100 years.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au