Latest news with #Letherbarrow
The Advertiser
18-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Drug dealer who slammed ute into power pole at Anna Bay rues rainy day
IT had been raining on the afternoon of March 6 this year when Clay Letherbarrow skidded off the road at Anna Bay and slammed his ute into a power pole. And it was the rainy conditions that led police to focus on a Gucci bag that seemed out of place under a nearby tree. Within a few minutes police had gone from responding to a routine car crash to uncovering a stash of methamphetamine, MDMA and cannabis and chasing a drug dealer across four lanes of highway and wrestling with him in a paddock. Letherbarrow, 25, of Anna Bay, who is represented by solicitor Kristy Wade, had pleaded not guilty to negligent driving over the crash, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and possession of a prohibited drug and was expected to face a hearing in Raymond Terrace Local Court. But he changed his pleas on Thursday and admitted to supplying methamphetamine and MDMA and possession of cannabis in relation to the drugs found in the bag after the crash. Letherbarrow remains behind bars and will be sentenced on August 27. According to court documents, Letherbarrow was driving a Toyota HiLux along Nelson Bay Road at Anna Bay in raining conditions about 2pm on March 6 when he lost control and hit a power pole. He wasn't injured, but a passerby decided to call triple-zero to report the accident. Police arrived a short time later and spotted Letherbarrow walking out of the bushes on the other side of the car. Police checks returned multiple warnings for Letherbarrow and he appeared "fidgeting and nervous". And it was when police walked around to where Letherbarrow had come out of the bushes that they spotted a Gucci bag under a nearby tree. Despite the rain, the bag wasn't wet, police said. It looked clean and new and police thought it hadn't been there long and perhaps Letherbarrow had quickly grabbed it from the car and stashed it under the tree before police arrived. Police searched the bag and found 36 grams of cannabis and other larger quantities of methamphetamine and what turned out to be MDMA. As well as the drugs, police found a mobile phone and a bottle of prescription medication that had Letherbarrow's name on it. Police went back to where Letherbarrow was standing and were in the process of cautioning and questioning him about the drugs when the 25-year-old suddenly grabbed the bag and ran from police. He took off across the four lanes of Nelson Bay Road and into a paddock, throwing items out of the bag as he ran. Police gave chase as Letherbarrow attempted to evade them before officers caught up to him and they began to wrestle in the paddock. Letherbarrow, who had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting arrest, tried to overpower police, but officers gained control and handcuffed him. He was taken back to Nelson Bay police station and declined to be interviewed. IT had been raining on the afternoon of March 6 this year when Clay Letherbarrow skidded off the road at Anna Bay and slammed his ute into a power pole. And it was the rainy conditions that led police to focus on a Gucci bag that seemed out of place under a nearby tree. Within a few minutes police had gone from responding to a routine car crash to uncovering a stash of methamphetamine, MDMA and cannabis and chasing a drug dealer across four lanes of highway and wrestling with him in a paddock. Letherbarrow, 25, of Anna Bay, who is represented by solicitor Kristy Wade, had pleaded not guilty to negligent driving over the crash, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and possession of a prohibited drug and was expected to face a hearing in Raymond Terrace Local Court. But he changed his pleas on Thursday and admitted to supplying methamphetamine and MDMA and possession of cannabis in relation to the drugs found in the bag after the crash. Letherbarrow remains behind bars and will be sentenced on August 27. According to court documents, Letherbarrow was driving a Toyota HiLux along Nelson Bay Road at Anna Bay in raining conditions about 2pm on March 6 when he lost control and hit a power pole. He wasn't injured, but a passerby decided to call triple-zero to report the accident. Police arrived a short time later and spotted Letherbarrow walking out of the bushes on the other side of the car. Police checks returned multiple warnings for Letherbarrow and he appeared "fidgeting and nervous". And it was when police walked around to where Letherbarrow had come out of the bushes that they spotted a Gucci bag under a nearby tree. Despite the rain, the bag wasn't wet, police said. It looked clean and new and police thought it hadn't been there long and perhaps Letherbarrow had quickly grabbed it from the car and stashed it under the tree before police arrived. Police searched the bag and found 36 grams of cannabis and other larger quantities of methamphetamine and what turned out to be MDMA. As well as the drugs, police found a mobile phone and a bottle of prescription medication that had Letherbarrow's name on it. Police went back to where Letherbarrow was standing and were in the process of cautioning and questioning him about the drugs when the 25-year-old suddenly grabbed the bag and ran from police. He took off across the four lanes of Nelson Bay Road and into a paddock, throwing items out of the bag as he ran. Police gave chase as Letherbarrow attempted to evade them before officers caught up to him and they began to wrestle in the paddock. Letherbarrow, who had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting arrest, tried to overpower police, but officers gained control and handcuffed him. He was taken back to Nelson Bay police station and declined to be interviewed. IT had been raining on the afternoon of March 6 this year when Clay Letherbarrow skidded off the road at Anna Bay and slammed his ute into a power pole. And it was the rainy conditions that led police to focus on a Gucci bag that seemed out of place under a nearby tree. Within a few minutes police had gone from responding to a routine car crash to uncovering a stash of methamphetamine, MDMA and cannabis and chasing a drug dealer across four lanes of highway and wrestling with him in a paddock. Letherbarrow, 25, of Anna Bay, who is represented by solicitor Kristy Wade, had pleaded not guilty to negligent driving over the crash, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and possession of a prohibited drug and was expected to face a hearing in Raymond Terrace Local Court. But he changed his pleas on Thursday and admitted to supplying methamphetamine and MDMA and possession of cannabis in relation to the drugs found in the bag after the crash. Letherbarrow remains behind bars and will be sentenced on August 27. According to court documents, Letherbarrow was driving a Toyota HiLux along Nelson Bay Road at Anna Bay in raining conditions about 2pm on March 6 when he lost control and hit a power pole. He wasn't injured, but a passerby decided to call triple-zero to report the accident. Police arrived a short time later and spotted Letherbarrow walking out of the bushes on the other side of the car. Police checks returned multiple warnings for Letherbarrow and he appeared "fidgeting and nervous". And it was when police walked around to where Letherbarrow had come out of the bushes that they spotted a Gucci bag under a nearby tree. Despite the rain, the bag wasn't wet, police said. It looked clean and new and police thought it hadn't been there long and perhaps Letherbarrow had quickly grabbed it from the car and stashed it under the tree before police arrived. Police searched the bag and found 36 grams of cannabis and other larger quantities of methamphetamine and what turned out to be MDMA. As well as the drugs, police found a mobile phone and a bottle of prescription medication that had Letherbarrow's name on it. Police went back to where Letherbarrow was standing and were in the process of cautioning and questioning him about the drugs when the 25-year-old suddenly grabbed the bag and ran from police. He took off across the four lanes of Nelson Bay Road and into a paddock, throwing items out of the bag as he ran. Police gave chase as Letherbarrow attempted to evade them before officers caught up to him and they began to wrestle in the paddock. Letherbarrow, who had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting arrest, tried to overpower police, but officers gained control and handcuffed him. He was taken back to Nelson Bay police station and declined to be interviewed. IT had been raining on the afternoon of March 6 this year when Clay Letherbarrow skidded off the road at Anna Bay and slammed his ute into a power pole. And it was the rainy conditions that led police to focus on a Gucci bag that seemed out of place under a nearby tree. Within a few minutes police had gone from responding to a routine car crash to uncovering a stash of methamphetamine, MDMA and cannabis and chasing a drug dealer across four lanes of highway and wrestling with him in a paddock. Letherbarrow, 25, of Anna Bay, who is represented by solicitor Kristy Wade, had pleaded not guilty to negligent driving over the crash, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and possession of a prohibited drug and was expected to face a hearing in Raymond Terrace Local Court. But he changed his pleas on Thursday and admitted to supplying methamphetamine and MDMA and possession of cannabis in relation to the drugs found in the bag after the crash. Letherbarrow remains behind bars and will be sentenced on August 27. According to court documents, Letherbarrow was driving a Toyota HiLux along Nelson Bay Road at Anna Bay in raining conditions about 2pm on March 6 when he lost control and hit a power pole. He wasn't injured, but a passerby decided to call triple-zero to report the accident. Police arrived a short time later and spotted Letherbarrow walking out of the bushes on the other side of the car. Police checks returned multiple warnings for Letherbarrow and he appeared "fidgeting and nervous". And it was when police walked around to where Letherbarrow had come out of the bushes that they spotted a Gucci bag under a nearby tree. Despite the rain, the bag wasn't wet, police said. It looked clean and new and police thought it hadn't been there long and perhaps Letherbarrow had quickly grabbed it from the car and stashed it under the tree before police arrived. Police searched the bag and found 36 grams of cannabis and other larger quantities of methamphetamine and what turned out to be MDMA. As well as the drugs, police found a mobile phone and a bottle of prescription medication that had Letherbarrow's name on it. Police went back to where Letherbarrow was standing and were in the process of cautioning and questioning him about the drugs when the 25-year-old suddenly grabbed the bag and ran from police. He took off across the four lanes of Nelson Bay Road and into a paddock, throwing items out of the bag as he ran. Police gave chase as Letherbarrow attempted to evade them before officers caught up to him and they began to wrestle in the paddock. Letherbarrow, who had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting arrest, tried to overpower police, but officers gained control and handcuffed him. He was taken back to Nelson Bay police station and declined to be interviewed.
The Advertiser
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Hot-shot reserve helps Jo's Giants finish off Firebirds
Supersub Matisse Letherbarrow came in cold and caught fire, lifting the Giants to a 68-63 win over the Queensland Firebirds and helping Jo Harten celebrate her 200th Super Netball game in style. After watching their 12-goal lead evaporate into a three-point deficit at Brisbane's Nissan Arena on Sunday, the Giants turned to Letherbarrow - and she delivered. Checking in partway through the final quarter, the sharp-shooting reserve nailed eight of 10 shots, including four of five super shots, and single-handedly outscored Queensland 10-2 in the last five minutes. Letherbarrow's late-game blitz delivered the knockout blow after Amy Sligar had laid the early foundations. "We wanted to come out and put in a solid four quarters," Sligar said. "It was really challenging, but it was good to get the win and celebrate Jo's 200th. "It's an incredible achievement and goes to show what kind of player she is." The Firebirds, who slumped to a 10th straight loss, were already on the back foot after losing co-captain Hulita Veve and attacker Tippah Dwan to knee injuries during the week. The Giants started fast, with Jamie-Lee Price on top in the middle and Sligar strong at wing defence. The Firebirds coughed up seven turnovers as the Giants jumped to a 21-14 quarter-time lead. Harten and Sophie Dwyer were in sync in attack as the margin stretched to 32-20, before Queensland clawed their way back. Lara Dunkley started getting on top of Sligar, as did Macy Gardner against Price in the middle. The Firebirds finished the half on a barnstorming 14-5 spree, capped by Abigail Latu-Meafou's three unanswered goals - including a super shot - inside the last minute to slash the margin to 37-34. Turnovers crept in again for Queensland in the third quarter as the Giants stretched their cushion to 51-44. But another Firebirds surge - a 6-0 run over the last 90 seconds, capped by a stunning Emily Moore super-shot right on three-quarter time - trimmed the gap to 51-50. Queensland coach Kiri Wills delivered an impassioned address at the final break. "We've got 15 minutes (left) where we need to work, work, work," she said. "Give this crowd something to bloody cheer for." The Firebirds heeded Wills' message and pinched the lead, before their shooters went cold down the stretch, while the Giants rode Letherbarrow's hot hand at the other end. Supersub Matisse Letherbarrow came in cold and caught fire, lifting the Giants to a 68-63 win over the Queensland Firebirds and helping Jo Harten celebrate her 200th Super Netball game in style. After watching their 12-goal lead evaporate into a three-point deficit at Brisbane's Nissan Arena on Sunday, the Giants turned to Letherbarrow - and she delivered. Checking in partway through the final quarter, the sharp-shooting reserve nailed eight of 10 shots, including four of five super shots, and single-handedly outscored Queensland 10-2 in the last five minutes. Letherbarrow's late-game blitz delivered the knockout blow after Amy Sligar had laid the early foundations. "We wanted to come out and put in a solid four quarters," Sligar said. "It was really challenging, but it was good to get the win and celebrate Jo's 200th. "It's an incredible achievement and goes to show what kind of player she is." The Firebirds, who slumped to a 10th straight loss, were already on the back foot after losing co-captain Hulita Veve and attacker Tippah Dwan to knee injuries during the week. The Giants started fast, with Jamie-Lee Price on top in the middle and Sligar strong at wing defence. The Firebirds coughed up seven turnovers as the Giants jumped to a 21-14 quarter-time lead. Harten and Sophie Dwyer were in sync in attack as the margin stretched to 32-20, before Queensland clawed their way back. Lara Dunkley started getting on top of Sligar, as did Macy Gardner against Price in the middle. The Firebirds finished the half on a barnstorming 14-5 spree, capped by Abigail Latu-Meafou's three unanswered goals - including a super shot - inside the last minute to slash the margin to 37-34. Turnovers crept in again for Queensland in the third quarter as the Giants stretched their cushion to 51-44. But another Firebirds surge - a 6-0 run over the last 90 seconds, capped by a stunning Emily Moore super-shot right on three-quarter time - trimmed the gap to 51-50. Queensland coach Kiri Wills delivered an impassioned address at the final break. "We've got 15 minutes (left) where we need to work, work, work," she said. "Give this crowd something to bloody cheer for." The Firebirds heeded Wills' message and pinched the lead, before their shooters went cold down the stretch, while the Giants rode Letherbarrow's hot hand at the other end. Supersub Matisse Letherbarrow came in cold and caught fire, lifting the Giants to a 68-63 win over the Queensland Firebirds and helping Jo Harten celebrate her 200th Super Netball game in style. After watching their 12-goal lead evaporate into a three-point deficit at Brisbane's Nissan Arena on Sunday, the Giants turned to Letherbarrow - and she delivered. Checking in partway through the final quarter, the sharp-shooting reserve nailed eight of 10 shots, including four of five super shots, and single-handedly outscored Queensland 10-2 in the last five minutes. Letherbarrow's late-game blitz delivered the knockout blow after Amy Sligar had laid the early foundations. "We wanted to come out and put in a solid four quarters," Sligar said. "It was really challenging, but it was good to get the win and celebrate Jo's 200th. "It's an incredible achievement and goes to show what kind of player she is." The Firebirds, who slumped to a 10th straight loss, were already on the back foot after losing co-captain Hulita Veve and attacker Tippah Dwan to knee injuries during the week. The Giants started fast, with Jamie-Lee Price on top in the middle and Sligar strong at wing defence. The Firebirds coughed up seven turnovers as the Giants jumped to a 21-14 quarter-time lead. Harten and Sophie Dwyer were in sync in attack as the margin stretched to 32-20, before Queensland clawed their way back. Lara Dunkley started getting on top of Sligar, as did Macy Gardner against Price in the middle. The Firebirds finished the half on a barnstorming 14-5 spree, capped by Abigail Latu-Meafou's three unanswered goals - including a super shot - inside the last minute to slash the margin to 37-34. Turnovers crept in again for Queensland in the third quarter as the Giants stretched their cushion to 51-44. But another Firebirds surge - a 6-0 run over the last 90 seconds, capped by a stunning Emily Moore super-shot right on three-quarter time - trimmed the gap to 51-50. Queensland coach Kiri Wills delivered an impassioned address at the final break. "We've got 15 minutes (left) where we need to work, work, work," she said. "Give this crowd something to bloody cheer for." The Firebirds heeded Wills' message and pinched the lead, before their shooters went cold down the stretch, while the Giants rode Letherbarrow's hot hand at the other end.
