A 24-year-old Alexandra Hills resident has been sentenced to probation and community service after pleading guilty to dealing cannabis from the car park of the local Hungry Jack’s restaurant.
Mitchell Leslie Rolfe appeared before Cleveland Magistrates Court last Thursday, where he admitted to multiple drug-related charges stemming from incidents that shocked local patrons at the Alexandra Hills Shopping Centre precinct.
The court heard that concerned members of the public contacted police after witnessing what appeared to be drug transactions taking place in broad daylight at the fast-food restaurant’s car park. Police responded to these reports and observed Rolfe conducting what prosecutors described as a transaction with a female customer.
Following his arrest, officers discovered approximately 30 grams of cannabis divided into individual bags of around 4 grams each, along with $460 in cash consisting primarily of small denomination notes. A search of Rolfe’s residence later revealed additional cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
The charges against Rolfe also included an incident from May this year, when he was caught driving on Finucane Road with drugs in his system whilst already disqualified from holding a licence.
During proceedings, Rolfe’s legal representative told the court that his client had worked full-time in the construction industry as a roof truss labourer and had distanced himself from criminal behaviour since his arrest.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta used the sentencing as an opportunity to warn about the potential progression from cannabis dealing to more serious drug offences. She emphasised that many people involved in trafficking harder substances often begin with cannabis before escalating to more dangerous drugs.
“Most people who end up trafficking in drugs don’t just start off a business of trafficking in ice or meth or cocaine,” Magistrate Vasta observed during sentencing. She noted that Rolfe had been apprehended before his offending could escalate further and encouraged him to take advantage of this opportunity.
The magistrate sentenced Rolfe to 18 months’ probation with strict conditions including regular reporting to authorities, mandatory counselling sessions, and random drug testing. He was also ordered to complete 60 hours of community service for refusing to provide police with access to his mobile phone during the investigation.
Whilst no formal convictions were recorded against Rolfe, he has been banned from entering Alexandra Hills Shopping Centre. The court warned that any breach of his probation conditions or failure to complete the community service requirements could result in significantly harsher penalties.
The incident has highlighted ongoing concerns about drug activity in public spaces within the local community, with police praising the vigilance of community members who reported the suspicious behaviour.
Published 5-September-2025
