Underbelly actor Vince Colosimo fined $1000 for drug possession
Australian actor Vince Colosimo has been fined $1000 after being caught in possession of the drug "ice".
The 50-year-old Underbelly star appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday morning and escaped a criminal conviction.
The court heard police intercepted Colosimo’s blue Saab in Fitzroy North on September 26 last year.
Police said Colosimo appeared nervous, and noticed he was hiding a bag in the front passenger's side when officers looked into the car.
An inspection of the bag uncovered a small amount of methamphetamines concealed in a sunglasses case.
Colosimo pleaded guilty in court to the drug possession and was fined $1000 and placed on a good behavior bond for 12 months.
He told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday his arrest was "a wake-up call".
"This has caused me, my family and friends grief," the father-of-two said.
"Some people make mistakes, I did and this has been a wake-up call.
"I have two beautiful children, whom I love more than anything in the world and I want to be a good role model for them.
"I want to settle the matter as soon as possible."
Colosimo’s father Santo, 80, told NewsCorp he did not expect his son to "end up like that" and was shocked to learn about the charges in the media.
"His mother is sad and [has] been crying. We’re all very worried and will do our bit, as father and mother, to support him,” Santo Colosimo told The Daily Telegraph.
"He’s very good to us and we’re close, he’s a good son who would do anything for his family."
After starring in Australian favourites Wog Boy, Chopper and Lantana, the Victorian native became a household name in 2008 for his role as Melbourne gangster Alphonse Gangitano in Underbelly.
Colosimo has appeared in 30 movies including Hollywood roles alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Body of Lies and The Great Gatsby.
Over the years he has been forced to take labouring work, including clearing building sites to make ends meet between acting jobs.
