Former AFL Premiership winning player and coach Mark Thompson has faced court this afternoon after Victoria Police sensationally levelled a raft of drug-related charges, including trafficking, against the fallen great.
Bomber Thompson was today charged with two counts of trafficking ecstasy, one count of trafficking methamphetamine (ice), and possession of ecstasy and LSD.
The charges follow on from a raid of Thompson’s Port Melbourne home on January 5th, which resulted in the arrest of 28-year-old Thomas Windsor, who was living in Thompson’s split-level property at the time and has prior ties to the Rebels bikie gang. Windsor faced court in Geelong on Monday to hear charges of trafficking commercial quantities of methamphetamine and ecstasy, among other charges, with police making explosive claims about the ex-coach in the process.
Following his arrest and charge today, police have alleged that ice pipes and pills were found in Thompson’s bedroom after officials executed the original raid on his property in January. Police allege that Bomber’s DNA was found on a number of packets of drugs in quantities large enough for the trafficking charges to be laid today.
The 54-year-old league great, whose health and personal life took a major toll throughout the course of the Essendon Football Club’s disastrous and protracted supplements scandal, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court late this afternoon to have the charges read.
After the January raid, Bomber left the country and travelled to the United States, leading police to argue in court today that he presents a flight risk ahead of any potential bail decision.
The presiding magistrate, however, granted Thompson bail on a $20,000 surety under the condition that he surrender his passport, live at a fixed address, and remain within the state of Victoria while proceedings are underway.
Thompson, who won premierships as a player with Essendon and as a coach with Geelong, revealed last year that the supplements saga had left him “bitter and twisted” and had greatly contributed to the breakdown of his marriage.
He will appear in court at a later date.
