Ashleigh Margaret Hamerton pleads guilty to trafficking, possession of drugs

A Bundaberg mother has been jailed for drug trafficking that brought in more than $46,000 as a Supreme Court justice described the sad reality that her children would now be raised by others.

Ashleigh Margaret Hamerton pleaded guilty to trafficking dangerous drugs in the Bundaberg Supreme Court.

A Bundaberg mother has been sent to jail over drug trafficking, a crime that a Supreme Court justice described as part of the “horrible, evil” rise in domestic violence across the region.

Ashleigh Margaret Hamerton pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking and one count of possessing dangerous drugs exceeding two grams in the Bundaberg Supreme Court.

The 34-year-old appeared in the court on May 1 after police raided her Burnett Heads home on March 24, 2021.

The court was told police climbed a locked fence to access her property, where they found more than seven grams of pure methamphetamines along with scales, clip seal bags and a mobile phone belonging to Hamerton.

Upon gaining access to the phone and bank records, police concluded Hamerton had been trafficking drugs at a street level for eight months between July 2020 and May 2021.

According to police, Hamerton had at least 45 customers, who in 160 transactions paid her $46, 536.

Defence barrister Peter O’Connor appeared for Hamerton and submitted five references in praise of her work history and character.

Justice Graeme Crow was critical of the references, which he said had become the “fashion” in recent years.

“References are being tended to the courts saying things in respect of convicted drug traffickers who do horrible, evil things in our society, that they’re genuine … the problem is I devalue any reference which speaks in glowing terms of a person,” he said.

“When they’re out there facilitating drugs which are known to be super highly addictive, super highly destructive, the cause of great amounts of domestic violence … I see children bashed to death by meth addicts, and these people are selling this and they’re genuine loving people?

“It makes me quite disappointed.”

Justice Graeme Crow was critical of the trafficking Ashleigh Margaret Hamerton (pictured) took part in.

Despite this, Justice Crow accepted the submission from Mr O’Connor that Hamerton had been a victim of domestic violence and had a son withheld from her by a former partner triggering a spiral into drug use and trafficking.

Mr O’Connor further submitted Hamerton had a good work history, and was supported by the employers at the popular local restaurant Grunskies who were ready to give her a job upon her release.

In his sentencing remarks, Justice Crow considered Hamerton’s criminal history, which included a minor fine for drug possession in the magistrate’s court only a few weeks before she began to traffic drugs.

“You didn’t learn from your first involvement [with the courts] and that has led you to this situation,” he said.

Justice Crow sentenced Hamerton to six years imprisonment for trafficking with eligibility for parole in nine months and convicted and not further punished for possession.

However, he cautioned Hamerton against returning to drugs upon her release, as she would undergo drug testing as part of her five-year, three-month long parole.

“Your children will be raised by others, essentially,” Justice Crow said.

“The reality is that persons who use methamphetamines shouldn’t be caring for children.”