Belinda Jane Jackson in court for supplying drugs

A mum of five bought a coffee mug at the Post Office. It wasn’t for drinking a cuppa. A Bundaberg court heard how she filled it with cocaine and meth before popping it in a post box.

A Gin Gin mother of five has escaped time behind bars after pleading guilty to mailing a drug package to an associate.

The District Court of Bundaberg heard that on July 21, 2020, Belinda Jane Jackson bought a mug before filling it with cocaine and meth, which had a street value of between $9000 and $11,000.

Jackson, 44, then carefully bubble-wrapped the contents of the package before popping it in a post box at Bundaberg Post Office, which was captured on CCTV.

The parcel never made it to its destination, however, and police found 22.255g of pure methamphetamine and 0.752g of pure cocaine within the substances secreted inside the cup.

Crown prosecutor Carla Ahern said the Crown was arguing the presence of commerciality.

The court heard Jackson had declined to participate in a police interview when she was arrested for the crime on November 17, 2020.

Defence barrister Simone Bain said her client had been involved in supplying drugs in order to feed her own habit.

“She has been using drugs which started at smoking cannabis and progressed to methylamphetamine and then progressed to using methamphetamine intravenously,” she said.

Bundaberg Post Office, where the crime took place.

“She has used on and off for most of her adult life.”

Ms Bain said Jackson would refrain from drugs while pregnant or when her children were young, but would relapse to deal with stress.

The court heard Jackson had been attending counselling to work on her addiction issues.

“She says that she’s been clean for six weeks,” Ms Bain said.

The barrister also noted Jackson had held down several jobs at various times, including working in retail and helping run a second-hand baby clothing store to help victims of domestic violence.

Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of supplying dangerous drugs.

Judge Nathan Jarro said it was a “not insignificant” amount of drugs in the package Jackson had mailed.

“You should know that drugs are illegal because people can become easily addicted to them, they have the very real potential, as you can appreciate, to wreak havoc on those who foolishly take the drug,” he said.

“Families suffer as a consequence and societies also break down because of the insidious nature of this illegal activity.

“You are a mature lady who really should know better.”

Jackson was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment with immediate parole.

Convictions were recorded.