A South Australian court has heard former Liberal opposition leader David Speirs used drugs as a form of ‘escapism’ amid the pressure of the job. The court was told Speirs has used cocaine on ‘several’ occasions before he was charged with two counts of supplying last year.
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00:00Back to court with an apology for those who David Spears says he's let down.
00:08I'm very remorseful in terms of actions. I have made mistakes in my life and I am very sorry.
00:17Inside, the court heard how the former leader of the opposition turned to cocaine as a coping mechanism.
00:24His barrister told the court he experienced an acute and immense stress as the result of becoming leader and felt extreme pressure and struggled to keep the party on track.
00:35The court heard Spears was introduced to the drug in June 2024 and used it multiple times before he was charged with two counts of supplying cocaine to two adults.
00:47Police charged Spears after an unrelated video was published by News Corp that showed the 40-year-old snorting from a plate.
00:55The then liberal leader resigned from politics after the charges were laid.
01:00Spears pleaded guilty to both counts, his barrister telling the court he used cocaine on several other occasions including the charged offending as a means of escapism.
01:11The prosecutor said Spears' actions undermined the very fabric of parliament and were inconsistent with his public duty.
01:19He took these drugs in a safe environment with his supposed friends. It's an explanation but not an excuse.
01:27I hope that South Australians and particularly the community that I'm part of, the community I previously represented, will understand what I'm working through.
01:37Lawyers for Spears told the court he'd taken steps to rehabilitate since being charged,
01:42but the public nature of the case has caused him significant humiliation and anxiety.
01:48Spears returns for sentencing later this month.