Notorious one-punch killer punished for heroin use while on parole

Infamous one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge has admitted in court to possessing heroin, having told police he used “everything” when they discovered the drug at his home.

At Mount Druitt Local Court on Wednesday, the 32-year-old stood up during his first appearance on the case, pleaded guilty to and was convicted of possessing heroin.

The admission related to a charge laid weeks before a court rejected extended state monitoring, despite concerns about potential violent re-offending while affected by drugs or alcohol.

Loveridge spent more than a decade behind bars for the 2012 killing of 18-year-old Thomas Kelly in Kings Cross while highly intoxicated.

The tragedy sparked Sydney’s lockout laws and prompted mandatory sentencing for alcohol-fuelled killings.

Asked by journalists outside court if he was clean from drugs, he replied: “Yes.”

According to facts tendered to court, officers from the NSW Police Raptor Squad found a small resealable bag of heroin near his bedside table while carrying out a weapons compliance check at his Glendenning home on April 17.

Loveridge, whose mother and sister were there at the time, initially “denied any knowledge of the item”, but later told police he used drugs and consumed “everything”.

He was sentenced to a six-month community correction order with conditions including not committing further offences and continuing Buprenorphine treatment to help fight his addiction.

Wednesday’s conviction followed an April court-ordered apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) over an incident involving his partner while he was in the throes of heavy drug use.

Loveridge was granted parole two years ago, which expired in May, ending his 13-year, eight-month sentence and all supervision.

As the end of parole approached, NSW sought a two-year Extended Supervision Order (ESO) to continue monitoring, citing a drug relapse and risk assessment report which considered him at “high risk” of violent reoffending.

An ESO subjects high-risk offenders to community surveillance and rehabilitation for up to five years for public protection, with the severity and number of conditions varying.

Despite court records revealing he was charged with heroin possession on April 17, the charge was not referenced during a May 15 hearing to determine whether he needed supervision. It was, however, noted that he continued to struggle with drug addiction.

Three days before this hearing, Loveridge entered a drug detox facility at Nepean Hospital, intending to start long-term residential rehab. The court heard his prospects were uncertain.

On Wednesday, Loveridge’s lawyer argued his client was already “engaging in rehabilitative measures” when the heroin was found by “attempting to detox at home”.

Judge Debra Maher responded: “You don’t detox at home with drugs on your bedside table.”

The court heard Loveridge tested negative to a drug test once discharged from the detox facility and had since been on Buprenorphine injections.

Maher said staying clean was a “long process”.

Loveridge’s lawyers had opposed the ESO, noting the time since Thomas’ death, Loveridge’s lack of physical violence convictions since a 2018 prison incident, and his post-release family responsibilities.

Justice Natalie Adams dismissed the ESO application, ruling that while Loveridge was at risk of further violence, it did not meet the legal threshold of a “serious violence offence” required for supervision.

“Mr Loveridge had a very promising start to adjusting to life in the community after being incarcerated from the age of 18 to 30, but he then lapsed into drug use, which is a significant risk factor for further offending,” the NSW Supreme Court judgment read.

“Despite this, the index offence occurred 14 years ago, and he has committed no serious violence offences since that date.”

Thomas’ parents, Kathy and Ralph Kelly, previously told the State Parole Authority they hoped their son’s killer would “live a lawful life”, and expressed concern that he was drunk and violent in prison.

“Mr Loveridge had a very promising start to adjusting to life in the community after being incarcerated from the age of 18 to 30 years old, but he then lapsed into drug use.”

Justice Natalie Adams

Loveridge’s life beyond bars began well, his psychiatrist noted. He abstained from alcohol, worked as a painter full-time and took part in the Violent Offender Treatment Program (VOTP).

However, he turned to drugs when his employer’s business folded and his first child was born, triggering psychological stress – including, the judgment noted, guilt that Thomas would never be a father.

He was arrested three days before Christmas Day last year over a domestic disturbance and released with a temporary apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) preventing contact with his partner.

Later that morning, he was charged with breaching the order when he was with his partner at Sydney Airport. He said he was retrieving his electronic monitoring charger.

Two connected assault charges were withdrawn, and no penalty was given for the non-violent breach which Loveridge admitted to, though parole was temporarily revoked.

Corrective Services also reported several technical parole breaches.

He repeatedly tested positive for – or admitted using – cocaine, ice, heroin, non-prescribed Valium, and Tramadol, while also breaching curfews, entering exclusion zones and mingling with bikies.

Victim support advocate Howard Brown, who had helped the Kelly family navigate the legal process in the past, expressed disappointment at the ESO’s rejection.

“We’re not talking about putting Loveridge back in jail, we’re talking about supervising him and putting in place the support needed to keep him off drugs and alcohol,” Brown said.

Brown compared an ESO to the “carrot and a stick” analogy, where the “stick” represents compliance and surveillance and the “carrot” is rehabilitation support.

“Every offence he has committed has been whilst under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, but predominantly alcohol,” Brown said.

“So when you have a person who is now extending his range of addictions to drugs… there’s serious concern there.”

“When you have a person who is now extending his range of addictions to drugs… there’s serious concern there.”

Howard Brown, victim support advocate

Loveridge’s prison history was riddled with controversies.

He was convicted of assaulting two inmates in 2015 and 2018, including a Rebels bikie president.

An “improper relationship” with a guard sparked his move to the high-security Goulburn Correctional Centre.

Initially sentenced to four years for the attack on Kelly, this minimum term was increased to a decade on appeal.

The state must now pay his ESO legal costs.

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