Heartbreak High star Putu Winchester-Stanton was moving to Bali before Byron Bay cocaine supply bust

A Heartbreak High star who has pleaded guilty to the commercial supply of cocaine was planning to move permanently to Bali before his arrest in the Byron Bay hinterland. 

Putu Winchester-Stanton, who police said was a leader of a drug syndicate, admitted in February to selling cocaine in the Northern Rivers district of NSW and will face a sentencing hearing on Monday. 

The 46-year-old, who has a history of drug-related matters, was considered a flight risk after being arrested at his Mullumbimby home and taken to Tweed Heads police station. 

A Heartbreak High star who pleaded guilty to commercial cocaine supply was planning to move  to Bali before his arrest. Putu Winchester-Stanton admitted selling cocaine in the Northern Rivers district of NSW and will face a sentencing hearing on Monday

At the time the heavily tattooed surfer was the owner of a Byron Bay clothing shop called Tito’s TT Bar which had closed for renovations.

‘The investigation has identified that Winchester-Stanton is intending to travel to Hawaii and then move to Bali in July 2021 to reside on a permanent basis,’ court documents state. 

‘The accused has been charged with significant drug supply offences which carry a custodial sentence. Police believe that the accused is a significant flight risk.

‘Investigators have identified that the accused has access to offshore funds and has business holdings offshore. Police believe the accused has the ability to use these funds to leave Australia if granted bail.

‘Police allege that the accused is a syndicate leader and directed this group to supply cocaine on a large scale for financial gain. The accused has a history of drug related matters.’

Winchester-Stanton subsequently spent three months in custody before being granted bail on July 23, 2021. The maximum penalty for commercial supply of cocaine is 20 years’ jail.

According to a statement of facts tendered in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court, Winchester-Stanton  (above) was considered a flight risk when arrested at Mullumbimby and taken to Tweed Heads police station

According to a statement of facts tendered in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, Winchester-Stanton  (above) was considered a flight risk when arrested at Mullumbimby and taken to Tweed Heads police station

Winchester-Stanton was born in the back of a three-wheel bemo taxi in Bali on New Year’s Eve, 1976. Putu – pronounced ‘poo-too’ – means first born.

His big entertainment break came when he accompanied his mother, also an actor, to an audition for Heartbreak High aged 18 and was offered a part. 

Winchester-Stanton starred in 75 episodes of the show set in a co-ed Sydney high school playing loveable class clown Dennis Klinsmann from 1997 to 1999.

He once said it was while on Heartbreak High as a teen heartthrob he became a ‘party animal’.

‘When you are young and impressionable and taken by the hand into the world of television and being a pseudo-celebrity, cocaine comes very much hand-in-hand with that,’ he told a newspaper in July 2021.

When that show was cancelled Winchester-Stanton moved permanently to Byron Bay, once stating he was attracted by the ‘easy r**ts’ and the chance to be a ‘big fish in a little pond’. 

Winchester-Stanton starred in 75 episodes of Heartbreak High playing loveable class clown Dennis Klinsmann (above) in a co-ed Sydney school from 1997 to 1999

Winchester-Stanton starred in 75 episodes of Heartbreak High playing loveable class clown Dennis Klinsmann (above) in a co-ed Sydney school from 1997 to 1999

Winchester-Stanton also had roles in Home and Away – appearing as a surfer named Pogo – and Water Rats, both in 2000.

In March 2010, Winchester-Stanton and a group of mates were thrown into a Papua New Guinean prison after they were arrested on Bougainville on drug charges.

PNG police armed with assault rifles had stormed a yacht the group was sailing on during a surf trip after receiving a tip-off that 500g of cannabis was on board.

Dubbed the ‘Perenti Five’ after the yacht’s name, the men spent a weekend inside a cramped Buka jail cell alongside murderers and rapists before being granted bail.

All five men were eventually found not guilty, returning home to Australia after more than a month of uncertainty.

In December 2020, detectives from the North Coast Region Enforcement Squad formed Strike Force Kelly to investigate the major supply of drugs in the Byron Bay-Mullumbimby areas. 

Officers from Strike Force Kelly seized 340 grams of cocaine and $25,000 in cash (above) after searching four houses in Byron Bay and surrounding towns in April 2021

Officers from Strike Force Kelly seized 340 grams of cocaine and $25,000 in cash (above) after searching four houses in Byron Bay and surrounding towns in April 2021

Investigators identified seven men including Winchester-Stanton and Bodene Lee Robertson as being part of a criminal group responsible for the ongoing supply of cocaine.

On New Year’s Day, 2021, Northern Region commander Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell authorised a controlled operation which allowed detectives to covertly target Winchester-Stanton and others.  

According to the statement of facts, the group used an encrypted mobile phone app to source and supply the drugs. 

Police used telephone intercepts, physical and electronic surveillance, and ‘controlled activities’ which included selling drugs to an undercover cop.

‘Investigators monitored meetings where they allege that the accused and associates sold cocaine for large quantities of Australian currency,’ the statement of facts said.

After the arrests of Robertson and Winchester-Stanton (above) in April 2021, Detective Acting Superintendent Greg Thomas vowed to continue to 'disrupt the supply chain of cocaine' in the Byron Bay region

After the arrests of Robertson and Winchester-Stanton (above) in April 2021, Detective Acting Superintendent Greg Thomas vowed to continue to ‘disrupt the supply chain of cocaine’ in the Byron Bay region

During the investigation Winchester-Stanton supplied 476 grams of cocaine and ‘supplied or possessed’ cocaine with an estimated street value of $236,950.

Robertson pleaded guilty to supplying a commercial quantity of cocaine and in May last year was sentenced to a maximum six years in prison with a non-parole period of three years and six months.  

After the arrests of Robertson and Winchester-Stanton, Detective Acting Superintendent Greg Thomas vowed to continue to ‘disrupt the supply chain of cocaine’ in the popular holiday region.

‘The Far North Coast is continually becoming increasingly popular with domestic tourists, and it is our job to ensure locals and visitors feel safe in our holiday towns,’ he said. 

A reboot of Heartbreak High which screened last year was a global hit and a second series has been commissioned by Netflix. 

During the investigation Winchester-Stanton supplied 476 grams of cocaine and 'supplied or possessed' cocaine with an estimated street value of $236,950

During the investigation Winchester-Stanton supplied 476 grams of cocaine and ‘supplied or possessed’ cocaine with an estimated street value of $236,950

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