Man Found With A “Modified Crack Pipe” Sentenced To Time Already Served And Released.
Alric Lindsay 
By Alric Lindsay
Terry Miller appeared in the Summary Court by video link today, July 27, 2026, in relation to possession of a drug utensil. The Chief Magistrate sentenced Miller to “time served” and said he was “free to go.”
The Crown’s case
Ben Brown, Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that on October 29, 2025, at about 12:30am, police had cause to stop Miller and another man in connection with an unrelated matter. During a search of the location, Miller was reportedly found in possession of a can that was modified for smoking crack.
DPP Crown Counsel said that Miller was arrested but was cooperative: he provided a urine sample that tested positive for cocaine and told officers, in interview, that the utensil and the drugs were his. Reportedly, Miller described himself as an occasional user who had turned to illegal substances when he was in pain, which he pursued after his pain killers ran out. DPP Crown Counsel explained that Miller went to the financial assistance unit (formerly, the Needs Assessment Unit) for assistance but was refused.
Defence counsel’s case
Defence counsel, Lauren Miranda, said Miller was self‑employed — effectively a landlord who rents out apartments — with no relevant previous convictions, his only prior matters dating from 1997, and was an occasional user of cocaine. He had already spent about two to three weeks in custody during the proceedings, part of the delay having arisen while the court awaited the outcome of related charges that were later withdrawn. Based on the foregoing, defence counsel suggested to the court that Miller should be released on time served.
The Chief Magistrate’s decision
Noting that these were Miller’s first offences of this kind and that he had already spent about two weeks in custody after testing positive, the Chief Magistrate sentenced him to time served and ordered the drugs forfeited. “You’re free to go,” she told him.
