Amber Hughes handed suspended sentence for drug trafficking after police pursuit in Elizabeth

A “very business minded” young mum who was caught with meth after a pursuit also had photos of her posing with drugs, cash and a gun, a court heard.

An “immature” drug dealer who was living a glamorous lifestyle would talk aggressively to the customers who owed her money, a court heard.

Amber Hughes, 25, dodged jail after she turned to meth to escape her reality and became a “very business minded” trafficker.

The District Court heard police followed Hughes through the streets of Elizabeth on June 8, 2021.

“You tried to evade them and eventually you stopped the car on a nature strip and tried to run away,” Judge Ian Press said during sentencing.

Police found 7.34g of methamphetamine in a plastic tub and a glass pipe.

On Hughes’ phone police located numerous messages dating back to April 24, 2021 consistent with her trafficking methamphetamine.

“There were also photographs of cash, drugs and you holding an item with the appearance of a handgun,” Judge Press said.

The court heard Hughes made over $1000 profit when she sold an ounce of methamphetamine.

Amber Hughes was handed a suspended sentence for drug trafficking. Photo: File

Judge Press said Hughes spoke aggressively to people who owed her money.

“One of your messages indicated that you would prefer to sell in amounts referred to as a half ball or a ball; that is one-eighth of an ounce, at a minimum, so you would mainly sell to dealers or close friends,” he said.

“You indicated you were interested because you were ‘very business minded’.”

Judge Press said the messages showed Hughes had embraced what she perceived to be a glamorous lifestyle, which he said was indicative of her immaturity at that time.

The southern suburbs mother-of-two pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.

The court heard Hughes started using drugs during a violent relationship – starting with cocaine and progressing to methamphetamine.

“You recognise now that you made a number of very bad decisions regarding the people with whom you associated and the way you spent your money,” Judge Press said.

“Your use of methamphetamine was to numb the pain of that abusive relationship and to, in part, escape your reality.”

The court heard Hughes stopped using methamphetamine after finding out she was pregnant and moved to the other side of town to isolate herself from the drug culture.

Judge Press sentenced Hughes to three years and one month jail, with a non-parole period of one year and nine months.

“The social evils of methamphetamine are highlighted every day in this court,” he said.

“Whether it is the misery that it introduces into the lives of the users or the offences committed by those who want to fund their addiction, it is a drug that continues to cause immeasurable harm within the community.”

Due to Hughes’ age and insight into her offending, the sentence was suspended on a $100, two year good behaviour bond.

Judge Press reminded Hughes that if she breached any conditions, she would likely end up in jail.