Ita Buttrose’s drug-dealing nephew to walk free from jail
Ita Buttrose’s drug-dealing nephew is set to be released early from Silverwater jail on Saturday after handing over his infamous “little black books” of contacts.
Richard Buttrose is the drug-dealer is the nephew of Australian media legend Ita Buttrose.
Richard Buttrose, 45, was originally sentenced to 16 years in jail in 2010, after police found over seven kilograms of cocaine (worth a street value of $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 reduced sentence deal was struck after Buttrose handed his book of contacts to authorities, which included details of his A-list clientele.
His sentence was reduced to 12 years and six months with a non-parole period of nine years and six months.
The deal to hand over his clients placed his wife and children in danger, the court heard.
His family has left the country and Buttrose himself served his sentence in protective custody, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The nephew of the media icon reportedly became known as “The Man” during cocaine dealing days.