Jennifer Ann Belford sentenced in Dalby District Court for multiple drug supply offences

A Queensland mother who experienced “significant trauma” throughout her life was busted supplying methamphetamine and cannabis when police tapped the phone of one of her buyers.

Jennifer Ann Belford sentenced in Dalby District Court for multiple drug supply offences.

A judge has implored a regional Queensland mother of four to give her children “a better young life” after she was sentenced for supplying cannabis and ice.

Goondiwindi woman Jennifer Ann Belford, 35, was sentenced in Dalby District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to14 charges of supplying drugs which occurred over a 37 day period between April and May 2023.

The court was told on March 9, 2023, police were conducting a drug operation on a seperate drug dealer when through wire taps of his phone they discovered he was being supplied by Belford.

On April 28 police issued a warrant at Belford’s property, seizing a mobile phone as well as methamphetamine and cannabis.

Belford was co-operative with police and told them she was selling drugs to fund her own habit as well as providing them the password to her phone.

Police were able to determine that across a 37 day period Belford supplied drugs 14 times to four different people, supplying methamphetamine seven times, cannabis six times and an unknown drug once.

Belford successfully applied for bail but breached her bail for drug related charges and since then had served 236 days of pre-sentence custody.

Defence lawyer Frank Martin said Belford has experienced significant tragedy throughout her life which had caused her to turn to drugs at an early age with her first drug offence coming in 2008 and continuing through to present day.

Mr Martin told the court at a young age Belford had witnessed her father murder her step mother before taking his own life.

Belford’s mother was also battling cancer while caring for her four children while she was imprisoned.

In sentencing Judge Benedict Power KC took into account Belford’s difficult upbringing and ongoing battle with drug addiction.

“There has been an enormous tragedy in your life and I will reduce your sentence as low as I reasonably can for the offences,” he said .

“You need to deal with your drug addiction because you won't be able to see your kids if you have drug problems.

“Give them a better young life than you had.”

He also took into account positive character references from prison officers.

“They have described you as an extremely capable worker who listens to instructions and gets on well with others,” he said.

“I know there is a real person behind the drugs and the trauma.”

Belford was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with 236 days served and was immediately released on parole.