Cocaine-dealing nephew of Ita Buttrose released from jail

Richard Buttrose, former drug-dealer to Sydney’s elite, walked free from Silverwater prison on Saturday.

The 45-year-old, the nephew of Australian media legend Ita Buttrose, served eight years and nine months of his original 16 year sentence for drug dealing.

Walking free from prison gates shortly before 9am, Mr Buttrose told reporters he felt ‘fantastic’ and his first stop as a free man would be Bondi Beach, The Daily Telegraph reports. 

‘I made a big mistake a long time ago,’ he said, as he walked to a waiting black Mercedes hire car.

Richard Buttrose, 45, was released early from Silverwater jail on Saturday after serving eight years for drug dealing (pictured in 2009)

‘I have done my time. I did the best to make the most of my time, I did two university degrees and now I am out a better person.’

Mr Buttrose left prison with a degree in both accounting and a Master’s in business administration.

The father-of-two was greeted by two friends at the prison gates before shaking the hand of a prison officer for the last time, the publication reports. 

He reportedly spent the afternoon at a barbecue in Bellevue Hill, surrounded by friends and family, after enjoying Saturday’s warm weather at the beach.

Mr Buttrose was sentenced to 12 years jail in 2010 after police found millions of dollars worth of cocaine and cash at his Sydney properties (pictured)

Mr Buttrose was sentenced to 12 years jail in 2010 after police found millions of dollars worth of cocaine and cash at his Sydney properties (pictured)

Police located more than $1.3m in cash along with around 7.7 kilograms of cocaine (pictured) during a raid on Mr Buttrose's properties

Police located more than $1.3m in cash along with around 7.7 kilograms of cocaine (pictured) during a raid on Mr Buttrose’s properties

Mr Buttrose was originally sentenced to 16 years in jail in 2010, after police found over seven kilograms of cocaine, worth more than $10.8 million, during a raid on his properties.

Police also discovered more than $1.3 million in cash stashed at his Paddington and Darling Point homes.

The cocaine-dealer had an A-list clientele, whose contacts he kept in an infamous little black book, the publication reported.

Mr Buttrose gave up his high-flying Sydney eastern suburbs clients for a reduced sentence.

His sentence was reduced to 12 years and six months with a non-parole period of nine years and six months.

The drug-dealer is the nephew of Australian media legend Ita Buttrose (pictured)

The drug-dealer is the nephew of Australian media legend Ita Buttrose (pictured)

The cocaine-dealer had an A-list clientele, whose contacts he kept in an infamous little black book (stock image)

The cocaine-dealer had an A-list clientele, whose contacts he kept in an infamous little black book (stock image)

The deal to hand over his clients placed his wife and children in danger, the court heard at the time.

His family fled the country and Mr Buttrose himself served his sentence in protective custody, the publication reports.

The nephew of media icon Ita reportedly became known as ‘The Man’ during cocaine dealing days, racking up millions in cash and property.

After his initial plead of guilty, the 45-year-old told the District Court that having cocaine was regarded ‘much like having a glass of wine’.

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