It wasn't until police came to his Martin Place office in August 2014 and arrested him in front of his colleagues that his secret emerged. On Thursday, Gouliadites was given an extraordinary second chance by a judge after pleading guilty to dealing ice, at times selling it from his government office. Gouliadites told the Downing Centre District Court that he turned to dealing in a desperate attempt to maintain a serious, long-term addiction to the drug. "Colleagues were telling me [I was in] some sort of death spiral," he said during his sentencing hearing. "I was literally falling apart at work." Gouliadites was charged with possessing ecstasy, marijuana and Ritalin in 2001 while he was studying law.

He turned to party drugs again in 2004, he said, partly because he was struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality. By 2013, while working as a government solicitor, he was smoking ice and spiralling rapidly, he said. By 2014, he was injecting the drug every two days while still turning up for work. He was in more than $65,000 debt and had overdosed at least once – but he refused to admit that he had a problem, he told the court. "How on earth can someone in your position determine to use that drug? What was going through your head?" his lawyer, Phillip Boulten, SC, asked. "I was depressed about a number of factors," he replied. "I was upset about a failed relationship ... I used drugs to deal with it at the time. I just couldn't process the trauma of it.

"Initially it helped me deal with my emotions. I wouldn't have to think about matters that would make me feel depressed." It wasn't until he sold drugs to an undercover police officer three times that he was arrested. He has pleaded guilty to drug supply, drug possession, dealing with the proceeds of crime, resisting arrest and possessing a prohibited Taser. Justice Peter Berman was due to sentence Gouliadites on Thursday but made the unusual decision to adjourn the case until next year, saying the decision on whether to send the 35-year-old to prison or not would partly depend on whether he can stay clean. Gouliadites graduated from rehab at William Booth House in August, following eight months of full-time treatment, and Justice Berman said he wanted to see how Gouliadites fared in the community. "I consider it appropriate to give the offender the opportunity to prove, if he can, that rehabilitation is long-lasting," he said.

Salvation Army Major Robert Seymour, the manager of William Booth House, said Gouliadites did "exceptionally well" and was overcome with "sorrow" once the extent of his offending finally dawned on him. "It makes me feel ill and sick to think about [dealing ice to others]," Gouliadites said on Thursday. "I'm deeply ashamed." Gouliadites, who was supported by more than 30 family members in court, said he was still attending weekly meetings and had established support networks with his family and friends to ensure he didn't relapse. Gouliadites was asked how the court could believe that was remorseful and rehabilitated when he had lied to his colleagues and family for so long. "I know honesty is my best bet for ... my recovery," he said.

As part of Gouliadites' strict bail conditions, he must have random urine tests and continue treatment.