Mark James Kaufman confessed to one count of taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, when he appeared in Armidale Local Court for a committal hearing last week.

The court was told Kaufman dealt the MDMA between August 4 and 29, 2014, at Armidale, and was charged by investigators attached to Strike Force Ansae, a 10-month covert police operation by New England detectives.

“And you’re pleading guilty to that charge?” Magistrate Karen Stafford asked.

“Yes, your honour,” Kaufman, who was supported in court, replied.

Four other drug offences will be taken into account when Kaufman is sentenced in the district court in February.

“In this matter, we would be seeking a pre-sentence report,” Kaufman’s solicitor asked.

Ms Stafford ordered Kaufman to report to Community Corrections in Armidale, even though he now lives in Brisbane, Queensland.

Kaufman’s co-accused, Marcus James Bruno Crane, did not appear when his case was briefly mentioned. 

The court was told he was still in custody in Cessnock, despite being granted Supreme Court bail on Tuesday.

“Bail has not be met,” Ms Stafford said.

Crane’s solicitor Yvonne Phillipos said counsel had been instructed in the matter and would seek to liaise with the DPP on the charges.

“His father is on his way to transport him to rehab,” she told the court.

Crane is facing eight charges, including the large commercial supply of ecstasy – after he allegedly sold more than 4500 tablets – as well as offences stemming from the alleged sale of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine.

He was extradited to Armidale in March from Queensland but was ordered to undergo drug rehabilitation by the Supreme Court after his release on conditional bail this week.

DPP solicitor Ben Barrack said he was also engaged in “negotiations” with a second co-accused, Daniel Gallaher, but the charges had “not settled” and needed to be finalised.

Gallaher is charged with seven offences, including the alleged supply of 4700 ecstasy tablets. 

“It’s a file ... about three lever-arch files,” Mr Barrack told the court.

“There is a significant amount of intercept material.”

Ms Stafford said she wasn’t going to continue “adjourning matters”, warning the cases against the pair would proceed one way or another in December.

“The defendant [Crane] must appear in person or a warrant to issue,” she warned.

Gallaher remains in custody.