Sophia Tilley outside the Downing Centre Local Court. Photo: Nick Moir
Sophia Tilley, the woman at the centre of a failed corruption watchdog probe that targeted high-profile crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, has been charged with cocaine possession in Sydney’s east.
Ms Tilley was standing on the roadside with a group of friends in Bellevue Hill this month when police allegedly found her carrying a small amount of cocaine.
It is understood police allegedly discovered less than a gram of cocaine on the 26-year-old on April8.
The Double Bay real estate sales associate, who dated Ms Cunneen’s son Stephen Wyllie, was charged with drug possession and is due to front Waverley Local Court next month.
The drug charge follows months of scrutiny for Ms Tilley. It centred on whether she was encouraged to fake chest pains to avoid being breath tested at a car crash scene in 2014.
The spotlight appears to have taken a toll on her relationship with Mr Wyllie, with rumours the pair recently split.
Secret recordings emerged this year that captured Ms Cunneen telling a tow truck driver she sent a message to Ms Tilley „to start having chest pains” to delay a breath test at the car accident in May 2014.
Ms Tilley was driving her boyfriend’s mother’s car when she collided with a pizza van outside the Bridgeview Hotel in Willoughby. She wasn’t at fault in the accident.
Ms Cunneen noted in the recording that Ms Tilley was on her P-plates and not allowed to have alcohol in her system. Ms Tilley’s blood alcohol level was zero when she was later tested at hospital.
The Australian Crime Commission tape and transcript were given to state MPs on a parliamentary committee in February after ICAC boss Megan Latham tendered them.
„My only reservation, just between you and me, is that, that naughty girl, had alcohol had, had oh no that’s all right I can cover that,” Ms Cunneen said, according to an excerpt from the recording transcript relayed to Fairfax Media.
It is understood the crime commission was targeting the tow truck driver’s calls when his conversation with Ms Cunneen was recorded.
Ms Cunneen has consistently asserted she was joking about the fake chest pains. She has also denied ever sending a message to Ms Tilley and she says no evidence has ever emerged of the existence of such a message.
ICAC was investigating the allegation Ms Cunneen attempted to pervert the course of justice until the High Court found, following a challenge brought on by the crown prosecutor, that it had exceeded its jurisdiction.
On July 24 last year, NSW Solicitor-General Michael Sexton, SC, said after considering considered the advice of the Victorian Chief Crown Prosecutor Gavin Silbert QC, no prosecution should be brought.
Mr Sexton said that after considering the advice of Mr Silbert, the original material provided to the DPP, and „representations by the solicitors” for the trio, he had determined that no charges would be laid.
Ms Tilley did not return calls on Saturday.
