Meth-user Theresa Cook, 52, fined and disqualified from driving

A long-term drug user had an accident in Cairns just over 22 hours after her licence was suspended for drug driving in Mareeba.

Theresa Cook, 52, has pleaded guilty to drug driving twice in one day in Cairns and Mareeba.

A woman who had an open box of syringes on the back seat when she was pulled over for a random breath test went on to drug drive a second time within 24 hours and had an accident, a court has been told.

Theresa Cook, 52, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to two counts of driving under the influence of drugs, possessing drugs, and driving while under a 24-hour suspension notice.

Police prosecutor Tara Nona said Cook was first pulled over for a random breath test in Mareeba on December 27, 2024, at 11.30pm, when officers noticed an open box of syringes in the car and found a small bag of “green leafy material” and valium pills.

Theresa Cook, 52, told the court she had problems with drugs in her life, but wanted to stop.

They charged her with drug offences and drug driving after meth was detected in her saliva and issued her with a 24-hour suspension from driving, the court was told.

Ms Nona said that just over 22 hours later, at 10pm the following day, Cairns police were called to a single-vehicle traffic accident, where they found Cook, who had crashed her car after unsuccessfully trying to park it beside a stormwater drain.

Cook, who represented herself, said she wanted to give up the drugs.

Magistrate James Morton asked Cook how long she’d been using meth, noting that she had convictions in the Supreme Court dating back more than 20 years.

Theresa Cook had traces of meth and cannabis in her saliva when she was tested the second time after police were called to a single-vehicle traffic accident on December 28, 2024.

The court was also told she had a previous conviction for drug driving and driving without due care and attention after an accident on the Kennedy Highway near Kuranda where she “crashed into the side of the hill”.

“But I see you’ve been out of trouble for six years,” Mr Morton said.

He told Cook he would be imposing “hefty fines” and warned her the consequences would be “very bad” if she got behind the wheel while disqualified from driving.

Mr Morton recorded convictions, disqualified her from driving for eight months, and fined her a total of $1500: $400 for the possessing drugs charges, $350 for each for the drug driving and $400 for the driving while suspended charge.

Originally published as Meth-user Theresa Cook, 52, fined and disqualified from driving