My Kitchen Rules host Colin Fassnidge had the illicit drug in his system when he drove through Maroubra in Sydney's east after 3pm on November 8.
The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, when his lawyer stressed that he hadn't been affected by the drug or knowingly put anyone on the road in danger.
But the Irishman received a stern chastisement from the magistrate for supporting a "dirty, rotten, filthy industry".
"You've only got to turn on the TV to see that people are being killed on our streets ... cars are being firebombed, homes are being shot up," magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said.
"That's the dirty, filthy reality of the drug industry."
Fassnidge previously escaped conviction for driving with cocaine in his system in 2022, the court was told.
"This is not the defendant's first rodeo," the police prosecutor said.
He pushed for a conviction to be recorded to send a strong message to the chef and the community about repeated drug-related driving offences.
But Bryan Wrench, the lawyer-for-the-stars in Fassnidge's corner, advocated for a good behaviour bond, arguing the devastating consequences meant his client would never repeat his offending.
The chef has lost sponsorships and his television series in New Zealand has been suspended with many crew members at risk of losing their jobs, he said.
"He is capable of redemption," Mr Wrench said.
"He's not getting away scot-free."
When asked why he deserved another chance after failing to redeem himself the first time, the Better Homes and Gardens presenter said he did not shy away from the consequences and had actively sought help.
"I'm disappointed in myself," he told the court.
"It's been four months of hell for myself (sic) and my family."
Ms Milledge found his support for the drug industry was at odds with his social conscience and his "magnificent" contribution to the community through extensive charity work.
She reminded the chef that many people look to him to lift their spirits and warned him not to use cocaine as a "release valve" for his own struggles.
"You've got a lot to lose and when you lose, so does everyone else who's invested in you," the magistrate said.
She declined to record a conviction and sentenced Fassnidge to a two-year good behaviour bond, noting the impact of his actions on his life and family.
"You have had a prolonged sentence, there's no doubt about that," Ms Milledge said.
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