A COACH and former footy star who was caught with a bag of drugs in a Sunshine Coast nightclub blamed a stressful Christmas period on his illegal behaviour.

Jarred Lawrence, a former professional NRL player and current coach for Kawana Junior Rugby League Club, told police he was celebrating with friends on December 22 when someone handed him a bag of cocaine at Post Office Bar on Ocean St.

Security busted the former Canberra Raiders player holding the bag in the toilets and called police who charged him with possessing dangerous drugs.

Lawrence, a father who is heavily involved in the local rugby league scene, added his first drug offence to his criminal history when he pleaded guilty at Maroochydore Magistrates Court today.

Defence lawyer Hugh Stitt said the 45-year-old coached two teams at the club and was a regular volunteer.

Lawrence made four appearances for the Canberra Raiders from 2001 to 2004.

The Buderim man migrated from New Zealand and now owns a manufacturing business distributing wet wipes to gyms.

Mr Stitt said Lawrence had a stressful festive season and asked magistrate Barry Barrett to consider not recording a conviction due to Lawrence’s blue card requirements.

Lawrence was ordered to complete a drug diversion course and was placed on four months good behaviour.

No conviction was recorded.

• A Queensland man has been charged with indecent assault at Bondi Beach 
• Police were called to a licence venue at 10.50pm May 5 over the alleged incident
• The 30-year-old man was arrested on May 6 at Waverley Police Station

By

Claudia Poposki For Daily Mail Australia

Published:
04:28 EDT, 6 May 2018

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Updated:
04:28 EDT, 6 May 2018

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Matthew Ross White, 25, was arrested at his Cairns home on Friday night and charged with the murder of Cooktown mum Donna Steele, whose body was found dumped in a crocodile-infested lagoon seven months ago. He is also charged with interfering with a corpse and entering a dwelling with intent.

Police say they have DNA linking Mr White to the scene where Ms Steele, 42, was found.

The grisly discovery of Ms Steele’s body was made around 15km from her home, near the far north Queensland town of Cooktown on August 6.

Just one week after police offered a $250,000 reward for information about her killer, Mr White was arrested.

He remains in custody after facing court for her murder and police have now revealed that the young sportsman and the missing mother were known to each other. It is understood that the accused murderer’s mother lives near Ms Steele and the families also know each other.

The Courier Mail reports that Mr White had been an Australian rules football player in earlier years and was described by people who knew him at the time as “quiet” and “pleasant”.

A friend told the newspaper that Mr White was a stay-at-home father-of-two and they were shocked to hear of his arrest.

“He doesn’t like or do drugs, smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol,” the friend told the Mail.

Detectives say that evidence would prove Mr White was in Cooktown on August 2, when Ms Steele was last seen at the local IGA.

Her body was found in the Endeavour River four days later, sparking a massive seven-month investigation that involved aerial and ground searches of homes, properties and waterways.

Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh told reporters in Cairns that police believe Mr White was alone when he allegedly killed Ms Steele, but would not comment on his motive.

He dismissed suggestions a $250,000 reward offered led to the breakthrough, saying all information had been “supplied freely”.

Ms Steele was a cabin cleaner at Cooktown’s Peninsula Caravan Park and went to work as usual on August 2 and left at about midday.

Police believe Ms Steele returned home after the last sighting of her — at Cooktown’s IGA supermarket at 12.15pm — and left the home “peacefully”.

There was no sign of a struggle at the home, and that there was nothing to suggest her husband, Tony Brown, was involved.

He was working away from Cooktown and returned home on Thursday to find her missing.

Heartbreakingly, her two boys, aged 8 and 10, came home from school on Wednesday and found their mum gone. They ate biscuits for dinner and put themselves to bed, and then got up and took themselves to school the next day.

The boys got themselves to school the next day, but didn’t tell anyone at the school or any teacher they’d been alone.

Det Marsh said Ms Steele’s family, including her husband and their two sons, were relieved by news of the arrest.

“Mr Brown is also extremely relieved that he can now tell his sons what happened to their mother and they can move on,” he said.

Mr White appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Saturday morning and was remanded until May 2.

HOW THE INVESTIGATION UNFOLDED

2017

August 2: Donna Louise Steele is last seen at the Cooktown IGA around midday.

August 3-5: Her husband reports her missing; emergency authorities conduct aerial and ground searches of the Steele’s family property and surrounding areas.

August 6: Ms Steele’s body is found in the Endeavour River.

August 9: Ms Steele’s brother Jason makes a public appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

August 11-25: Further searches carried out in the Leggett’s Crossing and Endeavour River area; trace DNA evidence is found on some of the 200 items that were scientifically examined.

October 31: A man’s shoe is found in the Endeavour River area.

2018

February 23: Police Minister Mark Ryan announces a $250,000 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction those responsible for Ms Steele’s murder.

March 2: Police confirm they have received new information and believe Ms Steele’s killer is from Cairns; police attend a Cairns address and arrest a 25-year-old man.

March 3: The man faces the Cairns Magistrates Court charged with murder, interference with a corpse and enter dwelling with intent.

— with Andrew Koubaridis and AAP

Grant’s lawyer has described the case as “personal and private”, saying it could hurt his reputation and family.

The North Melbourne premiership player was arrested at his Highett home last week on 18 charges including assault, intentionally causing injury and criminal damage.

Grant, 40, allegedly committed assaults on three separate occasions in 2017.

It’s also alleged he stomped on a victim’s foot, caused injury by throwing a mobile phone, and damaged a laptop.

Grant, who won the 1999 Norm Smith medal with the Kangaroos, faced Moorabbin Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a brief hearing.

“Mr Grant is obviously concerned about the fact that matters of a personal and private nature relating to him are now a matter of public and media concern,” defence lawyer Nicole Spicer said outside court.

“He will where appropriate be defending the charges and will be addressing them in a full and appropriate manner.”

Ms Spicer said the proceedings were difficult for Grant but he was mostly worried about his family’s welfare.

“He is mainly concerned about his family and his capacity to protect his family,” she told reporters.

“He is obtaining support from friends and community members and he’s dealing with the matters seriously.”

Grant’s arrest came two days after his shock resignation from a coaching role with amateur club St Kevin’s Old Boys.

Prosecutors told the court they were still gathering witness statements in the case.

The matters were adjourned for a contest mention on March 23 as investigations continue.

Grant played 301 AFL games, including 243 for North Melbourne, and won the club’s best and fairest award in 2001.