Laree Iris Clarke sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after stolen car leads cops to drug stash

A repeat drug offender still on probation, was found with small bags of drugs and an unauthorised weapon after police followed a stolen vehicle to her home in Townsville.

Laree Iris Clarke was sentenced to 12 months' probation disqualified driving.

A woman still on probation for prior drug offending was busted with two different types of drugs in her stash after police searched her North Queensland home that was flagged due to a stolen car sitting at the front.

Laree Iris Clarke appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on January 30 after police found her in possession of marijuana, meth, syringes that weren’t disposed of properly and an unauthorised, extendible baton.

Police prosecutor Tim Madsen said on December 23 last year, police flagged down a stolen car on Ross River Road that they later located on Water Street in Mundingburra.

He said police from the Rapid Action Patrol team along with a dog squad, executed an emergency search warrant of the home where Clarke, revealed herself as an occupant of the house.

“Police found two clip seal bags of green leafy material with a combined weight of 3.5g, a small black bag with .95g of meth and in the wardrobe were two syringes with liquid, and a telescopic baton,” Sergeant Madsen said.

The court was told the 24-year-old woman provided no comment at the time.

Defence lawyer Jessica Hine emphasised the total weight of the drugs was in combination with the bag weight and made clear that her client was not involved or charged in relation to the stolen vehicle.

She said the mother’s drug use started while in a previous relationship and that she used to hold steady employment, prior to drug use.

Magistrate Susan Warrington acknowledged that while it were small amounts of drugs found, the woman’s probation order was only activated in June last year and was an aggravating feature.

“There are detrimental effects that drugs has on society, but the people who are affected most is your own family,” she said.

Clarke pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs, failing to dispose of a syringe properly and possessing a weapon.

She was sentenced to 100 hours of community service to be completed in 12 months. All items were forfeited to the state.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Laree Iris Clarke sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after stolen car leads cops to drug stash