00:00The former Liberal leader remained tight-lipped as he left court, convicted of drug offences.
00:08How do you feel about being a convicted criminal?
00:10David Spears has also been fined $9,000 in order to serve just over 37 hours of community service
00:17after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine to two people on two occasions in August last year.
00:23The sentence comes after months of speculation when the 40-year-old resigned from Parliament following his arrest in September.
00:30Last month, his lawyers told the court his drug use was a form of escapism from the stress of the job.
00:36In sentencing, Magistrate Brian Nitschke condemned Spears's actions,
00:40saying given his former position, he should understand the seriousness of the crime.
00:45He said,
00:53But you did commit these offences having been a Member of Parliament for a number of years,
00:58and whilst you occupied the important parliamentary position of Leader of the Opposition,
01:03you would have well appreciated the criminality and public mischief of your offending.
01:08Spears's lawyers had said the widespread media attention had already served as a form of extra punishment,
01:14and it was therefore unnecessary to record a conviction.
01:17But today, the Magistrate disagreed with that argument.
01:20He said,
01:21The offending is too serious, the need for public denunciation for this type of offending,
01:26and the need for general deterrence is too great to refrain from recording a conviction.
01:31Liberal Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia has released a statement saying
01:35South Australians expect their MPs to do the right thing,
01:38and the process shows nobody is above the law.
01:41He says,
01:42Those elected to public office should be setting an example,
01:45and that is the firm expectation that the Liberal Party has of its candidates and the parliamentary team.
01:51A long ordeal for a man who was once a potential Premier, and now convicted criminal.
01:57He says,
02:01At the level of Liverpool takesód slipping and warned them of the officer's people who did a larger court note
02:10in the Wilder press mÃnimo,
02:13And the local government and for 35th to 48th to 48th.
02:17His election was admitted to the Keeper Gangel that in 12ich Cook.
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