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Source: ONE News
Home and Away star Todd Lasance's plans for Hollywood domination will not be stalled despite pleading guilty to a cocaine possession charge.
The actor, who played Aden Jefferies for four years on the long-running Network Seven soap, was charged with possessing 0.36 grams of cocaine, following his arrest at a Kings Cross nightclub in December 2009.
On Monday, Lasance, 24, pleaded guilty during a brief appearance in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court.
But he avoided a conviction and was instead committed to a 12-month good behaviour bond.
The 2009 Silver Logie winner had announced, before his arrest, that he was quitting Home and Away and heading to the US to have a crack at Hollywood.
A conviction would have threatened his chances of gaining a working visa.
Lasance had been attending the Home and Away end-of-year Christmas party when he was arrested, court documents read.
Police conducting a drug raid at the Kit and Kaboodle nightclub said they noticed Lasance turn and immediately head to the bathroom as soon as they entered the premises.
"Police followed the accused into the bathroom and upon entering noticed (him) nervously pacing back and forth next to the hand wash basin," a statement of facts tendered to the court read.
"Police observed the accused sweating profusely from his forehead as well as his hands shaking."
As soon as officers questioned him, Lasance handed over the drugs.
"I have some cocaine," he told them, adding he had paid $250 to $300 for it a few months previously.
In court, Lasance's lawyers handed up six glowing character references to Magistrate Graeme Henson, including two from the actor's Home and Away bosses.
"Todd has always been quite outspoken in his condemnation of recreational drugs, and I know that he would be extremely distressed and disappointed to be in this unfortunate predicament," director Geoffrey Nottage wrote.
Producer Cameron Welsh called Lasance's act "a serious error in judgment".
"Todd appreciates that as an actor in the public eye he is a role model to others," he said.
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