THREE DRUGS, NO PENALTY

PENELOPE Summers readily admitted possessing and using cocaine, ecstasy and
speed when police found the drugs in her purse.

But she walked from a court yesterday without a bond, a fine or even a
conviction after a magistrate found that her crime was simply "experimentation".

Describing Australia as a "tolerant society", Downing Centre Local Court
magistrate Sean Flood said Summers, 21, should not be burdened with a
criminal record after she pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing
prohibited drugs.

He said Summers, a commercial advertising worker at Channel 10, had no prior
offences and there was a "degree ... of experimentation" in what she had done.

"She certainly has none of the hallmarks of a person addicted to illegal
substances," Mr Flood said. "I do not see any worthwhile purpose in
burdening her with a conviction.

"A conviction for drug possession can have all sorts of adverse consequences
later in life."

Mr Flood then dismissed the charges under Section 556A of the Crimes Act,
allowing Summers to walk away without a penalty.

The court heard that she was caught with 2g of cocaine, 1.53g of speed and
0.81g of ecstasy when the driver of a car she was travelling in was stopped
by police for speeding on the Hume Hwy at Bookham, near Yass, in March.

During a search of the vehicle, the officers found a green Harrods purse
containing a small black pipe and several resealable plastic bags – some
with white powder inside.

"One of the bags (also) contained a blue powder substance," a tendered
police statement said.

"(Summers) was spoken to in relation to the suspected prohibited drugs and
admitted to ownership of all.

"She stated: 'They are for personal use'."

During a later interview, Summers said she had bought the drugs in Sydney
about a week earlier.

"She identified the drugs as cocaine, ecstasy and speed," the statement said.

Outside court yesterday, Summers could not contain her delight at the
magistrate's decision, smiling broadly as she left the complex.