‘Dirty, filthy’: Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge cops dressing-down for driving with cocaine in system

Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge received a stunning reality check from a Sydney judge, saying he was supporting a “dirty, dirty industry” after he was caught driving with cocaine in his system.

The My Kitchen Rules star stood before judge Jacqueline Milledge in the NSW Local Court on Wednesday and was told he needed to think about the consequences of his actions and the violence on Sydney’s streets that is a product of the drug industry.

Ms Milledge told the court: “You only have to turn on the television to see people being murdered on our streets, houses being firebombed, cars firebombed, houses shot at.”

“This is the dirty, disgusting truth of the pharmaceutical industry.”

Fassnidge, who sat in court with his wife at John Maddison Tower on Wednesday, pleaded guilty to driving with illegal drugs in his bloodstream after his gray Nissan ute was pulled over at Maroubra in Sydney’s east on November 8 last year.

He admitted having cocaine in his system, but his lawyer, Bryan Wrench, insisted Fassnidge was not affected by drugs at the time and did not endanger other road users.

The court was told this was his second offense of driving with cocaine in his system, having previously been fined for the same matter in 2022.

In court Wednesday, Fassnidge described the last four months as “hell.”

“As a result of this, he lost his sponsors, risked everything and will never do this again,” Mr Wrench said.

Mr Wrench also said his client wanted to “save himself”.

“Why didn’t he save himself in 2022?” asked Miss Milledge.

The court was told one of Fassnidge’s TV shows had been suspended during the court process.

Fassnidge told the court that everyone involved in the New Zealand production of one of his shows would lose their jobs.

Ms Milledge noted Fassnidge’s support of a variety of charities and described his extensive community work as “fantastic”.

But he later questioned why someone with social conscience like Fassnidge would fuel the illegal drug trade by buying cocaine.

He also told her she couldn’t use drugs as a “release valve.”

“I hate them (drugs), I think they’re terrible. Why should you be given another chance?” When asked why a conviction should not be recorded against him, Ms Milledge said:

Addressing the court directly, Fassnidge said: “The past four months have been pretty dark.”

He also told the court he had never sought professional help before and was forced to confront his problems head on.

Ms Milledge made no convictions and ordered Fassnidge to pay two years’ good behavior bail.

And he warned her that if she was ever offended again, he would return before her.

“You don’t want that to happen,” he said.

“Thank you for this and I’m sorry for wasting everyone’s time,” Fassnidge told the court.