Natasha Cocks appealing against four year jail sentence for supplying drugs to man that resulted in fatal overdose

A personal trainer who supplied drugs to a man before his death has made a bold jail request – and she says it’s in the best interest of her children.

A dealer whose drugs caused a man’s fatal overdose has asked a court for leniency, saying she now has a deeper understanding of the harm drugs can cause since she went to jail.

Natasha Cocks, 31, applied to the Court of Appeal to be released on a suspended sentence after serving four months in jail, telling the court she should be sent home due to her rehabilitation.

Benjamin Armstrong, for Cocks, told the Court of Appeal on Friday that being in jail had a significant impact on her, including missing milestones in her children’s lives.

Cocks was sentenced to four years and three months, with a non-parole period of two years by Judge Simon Stretton in August.

Drug dealer Natasha Cocks appealed against her sentence. Picture: Facebook

Cocks was investigated after the overdose death of Brad Cooper on November 1, 2019.

“Text messages established that you were dealing drugs to him on a regular basis and on that day supplied him with a drug he took, which then killed him,” Judge Stretton said during sentencing.

Police found Cocks had been trafficking methamphetamine and marijuana after they raided her house on April 14, 2021.

Cocks, who was described by Judge Stretton as a “busy street level dealer”, didn’t know Mr Cooper had died until police spoke to her.

The Morphett Vale personal trainer pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and supplying drugs.

The court previously heard it was Cocks’ back pain and poor mental health that led to her “substantial use” of methamphetamine.

Mr Armstrong said Cocks had returned three negative drug tests since being released on supervised bail on December 17.

“She is looking forward to, perhaps unsurprisingly, being a positive influence to her children and the community of course,” he said.

“In the prison environment, Ms Cocks was exposed to people who, through the ravages of drugs, have ended up there.

“So of course, she has a far deeper understanding now of the effect, the wider effect, of drugs in the community than she did before she was incarcerated.”

Mr Armstrong said Cocks, who is “very close” to being fully rehabilitated, is currently looking for work.

“We’re minded to grant – well we impose a prison sentence but it will be suspended on various conditions,” Justice David Lovell said.

Justice Lovell said he hoped to finalise Cocks’ appeal next month.