Jami Lee McGuirk faces court for possessing meth at Parafield Gardens

A previously jailed drug dealer was told by a magistrate her children need her clean after she was caught with a significant amount of meth in her bedroom.

A mother-of-two had a lucky break not being charged with a more serious offence after police found a significant amount of drugs in her bedroom.

A magistrate told Jami Lee McGuirk, 31, she had a lot to lose if she does not kick her methamphetamine habit.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday heard police attended a Parafield Gardens address on April 12, 2021.

“Police observed numerous resealable bags containing what appeared to be methamphetamine,” a police prosecutor said.

Police searched McGuirk’s bedroom and found 7g of methamphetamine.

McGuirk, of Salisbury East, pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled drug.

The court heard McGuirk was originally charged with drug trafficking but it was discontinued.

Nick Vadasz, for McGuirk, told the court she had struggled with drug abuse from a young age.

“Her problems with methamphetamine started following the death of her father,” Mr Vadasz said.

“She has quit during both her pregnancies successfully.”

The court heard she had relapses, with one being during the time she was arrested.

The court heard McGuirk, who had worked at a fast food restaurant and as a fruit picker, was getting counselling for her drug problem.

Supplied Editorial Jami Lee McGuirk pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine. Photo: Facebook

Magistrate Edward Stratton-Smith said it was surprising that McGuirk had only been charged with a summary offence.

“That would ordinarily be a given for a trafficking offence – it’s a lot of methamphetamine,” he said.

“You only need 2g to be presumed to be trafficking so I assume that (some of it) was attributable to someone else.”

Mr Stratton-Smith said he hoped McGuirk would be able to avoid the destructive nature of methamphetamine in the future – for the sake of her and her children.

The court heard McGuirk had previously been jailed for drug trafficking in 2017.

“Your history seems to support … that you battled with a drug problem on and off since the untimely death of your father,” Mr Stratton-Smith said.

Mr Stratton-Smith sentenced McGuirk to a 18-month, $500 good behaviour bond.

“I hope you keep battling this and don’t relapse,” he said.

“You’ve got a lot to lose as you’re a single mum with two young children.

“They need you.”

A conviction was recorded.