Melanie Ferenc avoided jail for drug trafficking in southern suburbs
A meth-using mum has been given a second chance by a judge, despite working as a courier for a dealer. Find out why.
Police & Courts
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A mother entangled herself in a drug operation after moving into a share house with other dealers, a court heard.
Melanie Kate Ferenc, 38, avoided jail after she turned her life around and rehabilitated from her drug use.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Ferenc was living with a woman and a man in O’Sullivan Beach at the time of the offending in June 2021.
The court heard Ferenc met the woman when their daughters were at primary school together and they became close friends.
“You found yourself unemployed and without an income, needing to pay rent and with a daughter who had no support from her father,” Judge Liesl Kudelka said.
“He (the man) was dealing drugs from that address and (the woman) was assisting.”
The court heard Ferenc collected methamphetamine for the man from his supplier.
“You were promised methamphetamine in return for your courier role, but you did not end up receiving anything,” Judge Liesl Kudelka said.
The court previously heard the operation involved a “substantial amount” of telephone intercepts and listening devices that resulted in the defendants being charged.
Ferenc, of Morphett Vale, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.
The man, whose name is suppressed, pleaded guilty to more than 50 counts of drug trafficking and will be sentenced at a later date.
The court heard Ferenc had been a recreational user of methamphetamine, but her use increased after the friendship with the woman.
“The day after you committed this offence, your life took a much better turn,” Judge Kudelka said.
The court heard Ferenc moved out of the share house, got a job and stopped using drugs.
Judge Kudelka sentenced Ferenc to 17 months jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months.
“The distribution of methamphetamine in the community threatens the safety of the people in the community because it is such an addictive and dangerous drug. It ruins lives,” she said.
Due to Ferenc’s rehabilitation efforts, the sentence was suspended on a two year good behaviour bond.
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