Ecstasy paraphernalia found in bag stashed between legs in car

When police then stopped the car on Wagga Road, Lavington, on January 10 they noticed the then 16-year-old was "sweating profusely".

In a black backpack between his knees were the tools of his illicit trade in MDMA: electronic scales, empty capsules, resealable plastic bags and a large, six-gram rock.

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This was the MDMA, enough, he said, to make 60 capsules, which he later admitted having previously sold to friends.

The boy's dealing, Albury Children's Court has heard, shocked his parents, who promptly moved him to another Albury secondary school to get him away from bad peer group influences.

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But magistrate Richard Funston said that if anything the boy was the negative influence, as "he was a leader, not a follower".

The boy, now 17, avoided both a conviction and a control order that would have had him locked up, having previously pleading guilty to 12 charges including multiple counts of either offering to supply or supplying a prohibited drug, for a financial benefit of $900.

Police said they had been "lenient" with their charges "as the large quantity of messages relating to drug supply" between November, 2018, and December, 2019 "was at the high level".

"Further charges of ongoing supply could have been laid, however discretion has been taken in this matter."

Defence lawyer Dominic Holles said his client was relieved when arrested as this provided him with a way out.

Mr Funston said he was "not going to lock you up today" and that his family "has got this absolutely under control".

He said the teenager would be given "the chance to prove to the court and your parents you have learned from this".

"It really beggars belief that a young person could get in so deep," Mr Funston said.

"He knew exactly what he was doing. We're not talking about just a one-off situation."

The boy was placed on 12 months' probation, with supervision.