Coloured smoke experiments land ‘hobby scientist’ in court

Prosecutor Senior Constable Caitlin McLeod told the court police went to Cording’s Mooroopna home on October 15, 2020, after the man he sub-rented a room off was subjected to a home invasion.

While police were at the house, they found a container of 50.1g of iodine — which is well above the 35g legally allowed — that belonged to Cording, Sen Constable McLeod said.

When police arrested Cording six days later he had two zip-lock bags with the remnants of methamphetamines in them.

The court heard he told police he was selling methamphetamines to make money.

Texts were also found on his phone relating to trafficking drugs.

Cording’s solicitor Laurence Waugh told the court his client was a “hobby scientist”.

“He has a deep interest in science and regularly performs science experiments,” Mr Waugh said.

He also spoke of the “academic interest” Cording had in science, with the iodine mixed with potassium nitrate to make purple smoke like that used in magic shows.

Now a worker at a local abattoir, Cording had once been a researcher at SPC where he was researching how to minimise bruising on fruit in transport.

Mr Waugh also spoke of how his client had been a heavy methamphetamines user, but said he had abstained from the drug since he was bailed on this matter in October 2020.

Mr Waugh told the magistrate Cording had never manufactured methamphetamines, which was one of the charges he initially faced before it was later struck out.

He also told how Cording used methamphetamines for the first time in 2013 and that it had “ripped his life to bits”.

He said the trafficking charge was at “the very lowest level” and that he was selling it in very small quantities.

“He’s done a really good job of rehabilitating himself,” Mr Waugh said.

“There was five to six years lost to drugs ... and he has no intention to return.”