Margaret River teacher Hamish Gibson expected to admit possessing but deny intent to supply illegal drugs

The award-winning teacher allegedly caught with MDMA and other drugs during a probe into laced lollipops in South West schools will not deny possessing the illicit substances. The revelation comes as Hamish Kane Gibson appeared in Margaret River Magistrates Court on Monday to progress his charges, however, he is yet to enter official pleas. Mr Gibson, a former teacher at Busselton’s Georgiana Molloy Anglican School, was charged with two counts of possession of illicit drugs with intent to sell or supply, one of which involves MDMA. Barrister Michael Tudori told the court his client intended to argue against the notion of intent to supply, rather than possessing the drugs, when the charges eventually progress to the District Court of WA. Mr Gibson will return to court in April to officially enter his pleas. The man was also charged with possessing a category one or category two item without lawful excuse and hindering police. While the Margaret River father’s charges stem from a police probe into drug-laced lollipops, he has not been accused of creating the candy which sparked the investigation. The investigation was launched in August 2021 when a teenager, who attends a different school to where Mr Gibson worked, suffered hallucinations and other symptoms after one of the suspect lollipops was given to him by a classmate. It is understood police found an item they said was used to manufacture drugs during their raid on the man’s home, as well as MDMA and another prohibited drug. The former GMAS head of science has since lost his position with the school as a result of the charges laid against him. He was flanked by family, including wife Desiree Francis Gibson who was convicted on four drug charges, including cultivating a prohibited plant, in August last year.