Antionette Sarah Maree Collins pleads guilty to drug trafficking

A ‘low level’ Bundaberg drug trafficker had 120 meetings with one of her small group of clients.

Antionette Sarah Maree Collins appeared in the Bundaberg Supreme Court.

A Bundaberg drug trafficker with a long history of substance abuse has been released on parole after the court heard of the “unusual” circumstances behind her offending, and the hard work she had put into her rehabilitation.

Antoinette Sarah Maree Collins pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking, two counts of unlawful possession of a drug, and one count of possession of utensils used in the commission of a drug offence in the Bundaberg Supreme Court on Monday, March 4.

The mother of two appeared in the courthouse where the circumstances of her low level street trafficking were heard in light of a traumatic childhood.

The court heard Collins had a long history of substance abuse, which began at the age of nine.

By the age of 20 her drug use had escalated from glue to methamphetamines, however her criminal record remained clean until her early 50s, when she was sentenced in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court for possession.

Despite being sentenced lightly for the offending, the court heard Collins quickly returned to the drug scene, trafficking drugs at a low level to a small number of clients, one of whom she met with on more than 120 occasions.

The court heard Collins used secretive communication to discuss her frequent drug deals which occurred between October 21, 2023 and March 23, 2022, but despite the constant meetings she was making little profit from the offending and was often owed money.

Antoinette Sarah Maree Collins appeared in the Bundaberg Supreme Court.

Barrister Callan Cassidy appeared for Collins and told the court the “significance of her drug addiction” had driven her to trafficking after she lost her job despite a strong employment history.

Mr Cassidy submitted several positive letters and exhibits on behalf of his client which showed a “commendable” rehabilitation effort which had resulted in her remaining free of drugs as proven by hair follicle testing.

Letters from her children also were supportive of the parenting the single mother had shown to her two daughters.

“It seems despite your drug problem, you’re very unusual because most people with drug problems make dreadful parents,” Judge Graeme Crow said.

Jude Crow accepted submissions Collins had face a difficult childhood, for which she had undertaken mental health support to address in later life.

“It seems that your long term use of drugs is really rooted in the violence that was perpetrated upon you as a young child,” he said.

Collins was sentenced to three years jail with immediate parole for trafficking and convicted and not further punished on the remaining charges.