A former senior staffer to Malcolm Turnbull has pleaded guilty to charges of offensive behaviour and drug possession.

Stephen Ellis resigned from his government position in 2015 after being charged with six offences, including public indecency and carrying prohibited items through security at Canberra Airport.

At the time, Ellis had been working for then communications minister Mr Turnbull.

• Parliament forced to evacuate
• Dual national detained in Lebanon: reports
• Geoffrey Hunt ‘strangled’ missing Hobart woman

Four of the original six charges were dropped by the prosecution and Ellis also faced two fresh charges of possessing drugs of dependence and prohibited substances.

Ellis’s lawyers argued that given the media attention surrounding the criminal matters last year, he had already been punished enough.

They said Ellis had lost professional standing and damaged his reputation to the point where he was unable to secure anything more than contract work.

They also said a conviction would be detrimental to Ellis’s personal life, as his partner is from the United States and frequently travels there for work.

With a criminal conviction Ellis’s lawyers argued it would be hard for him to ever renter America or visit his partner.

Magistrate Maria Doogan agreed in her sentencing and said there had been a “significant” impact on Ellis’s life already.

“What happened on this particular day has ultimately become a tragedy for you,” Magistrate Doogan said.

She also went on to describe the incident as “bizarre”, saying Ellis’s culpability was affected by his intoxication.

“Nobody could make this up,” Magistrate Doogan said.

“Nobody who wasn’t under the influence …would behave in such a way in a public place, especially an airport.”

Magistrate Doogan found the two offences had been proved but she handed down a non-conviction order for both.

Ms Doogan said given his lack of criminal history there would be no good behaviour order but she did order him to pay court costs of $73.

– ABC