Alan Burke denies claims of 'despicable' drug-dealing over alleged sale of cannabis to child

Alan Scott Burke pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge when he made his first appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.

The Holt man has been on bail since March 29, following his arrest earlier that day over an incident at the Kippax shopping centre.

ACT Policing said in a statement at the time that officers had received reports of "suspicious behaviour" in the area before seeing the 66-year-old "interacting with a group of young people".

"Police enquiries determined the man had sold cannabis to one of the minors and he was subsequently placed under arrest," the statement said.

The officer in charge of Belconnen Police Station, Inspector Brett Booth, thanked the public at the time for their assistance.

"Drug dealers do enough damage to the community let alone when they are preying on young kids," Inspector Booth said.

"It's absolutely despicable behaviour and this incident proves once again how the community's assistance is invaluable to police in continuing our swift response to crime.

"It is your community, you know when something is out of place in your neighbourhood and I would encourage all Canberrans to report suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers."

Mr Burke is due to appear in court again in July.

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