Cairns court: Former drug and alcohol support worker Lauren Maddigan to be sentenced
A drug and alcohol support worker turned Cairns drug trafficker, who threatened her customers, will find out her fate after pleading guilty.
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A DRUG and alcohol support worker turned drug trafficker, who threatened her customers by saying she’d “kick the f***” out of them, will find out her fate on Wednesday.
Lauren Maddigan pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking methylamphetamine between July 3 and September 1, 2020, as well as one count of possessing methylamphetamine, cannabis and diazepam.
Maddigan spent three months in custody before a bail application was made.
Crown prosecutor Claudia Georgouras said Ms Maddigan offered to supply on 44 occasions to 17 different customers as identified in text messages.
“By the 18th of August 2020, your honour will see that the defendant is chasing debts and on that particular occasion has threatened violence against the customer who hasn’t paid her back,” Ms Georgouras said.
The text message read out said, “I’m happy to come kick the f*** out of you”.
“There are a number of messages where she is chasing debts saying she can’t afford to look after her children unless customers are paying her back,” she said.
Ms Georgouras went through bank records at the offending times and the credits tallied to $126,555,43 over a period of 59 days.
“When your honour has reference to the debits on the accounts, it really seems to be being spent or being withdrawn at least at various hotels, taverns around Cairns in the hundreds of dollars amount at the relevant time as well as on taxis,” she said.
Maddigan’s barrister Patrick Wilson said she had a tragic background with domestic violence in her past.
“He’s committed these terrible acts of domestic violence against her, enforcedly injecting her with the drug meth which she had no experience previously then subsequently developed a habit of it,” Mr Wilson said
“She describes her period of drug addition that destroyed her as a person.
”The reason why she became a drug addict is terrible, her efforts since are commendable and it seems like she is on track back.”
Before that he said she had a successful and accomplished life and previously worked as a drug and alcohol support worker. She worked at Djarragun College in Gordonvale before her life fell apart.
Mr Wilson said when she was previously in custody she was given a hard time because of her background.
“Going back into custody may have the effect of undoing a number of positive steps she has taken in rehabilitation,” he said.
Justice James Henry said he needed more time so the sentence was adjourned until Wednesday.
Maddigan was remanded in custody.
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Originally published as Cairns court: Former drug and alcohol support worker Lauren Maddigan to be sentenced
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