Gladstone woman claims threats to kill made over drug debt

HANNAH Jane Quant, who was arrested over a $55,000 ice haul nine months ago, claims a Gladstone drug dealer threatened to kill her over drug debts.

PICTURED: Hannah Jane Quant leaves Gladstone Courthouse in June after being bailed on drug charges at the time.

HANNAH Jane Quant, who was arrested over a $55,000 ice haul nine months ago, claims a Gladstone drug dealer threatened to kill her over drug debts.

The frightening claim was made in Gladstone Magistrates Court when Quant, 25, made a bail application after her arrest on a new charge of drug trafficking.

The court heard Quant's mother in Tannum Sands would pay $15,500 to install her daughter into a live-in drug rehabilitation facility.

Prosecutor Sgt Barry Stevens opposed bail, saying Quant was in a show-cause situation because of her previous bail.

He said she had named people including Garet Gerrard (in custody, bail refused) as being "the head of this (drug) network".

Undercover police and phone intercepts had been used. He said Quant was more than a courier.

"The view of the prosecution is that this lady is the next level down and responsible for its distribution," Sgt Stevens said.

"The issue is purity. The 63 grams (of ice seized in June) held 35 grams of pure methylamphetamine, or 50%, which indicates it was high up the food chain. At that level it's dangerously high even for experienced users."

He said while it was great for her to get rehabilitation "lots of people in this town need rehabilitation because of her actions."

Dressed in a black singlet and at times twisting her long, striking dyed red hair as she sat in the dock, Quant let her Brisbane barrister James Godbolt do the talking.

On bail after her arrest at Turkey Beach last June, where police allege she had $55,000 worth of methylamphetamine in her car, and subsequently charged with five offences including supply and possession of ice, Quant is now charged with trafficking drugs between June 22, 2015 and January 20.

In the bail application before magistrate Penelope Hay, Mr Godbolt said Quant was receiving threats even when granted bail to live in Brisbane.

"The threats became more regular since her return to Gladstone and Tannum Sands, and more personal," he said.

"She is held responsible for the loss of the drugs from her earlier arrest. She was a conduit, essentially couriering it from one place to another in the expectation she would get drugs.

"Two weeks ago she was held, essentially abducted and held in a vehicle and there were threats to kill."

Mr Godbolt said she had been pursued for money over a drug debt.

"Her return has not been pleasant and led to further involvement in the drug scene in this town," Mr Godbolt said.

"Her predicament is her drug problem and drug debt.

"To suggest she is the next tier down from Gerrard is not made out. There was not one single (drug) sale to undercover police.

"No texts suggest she was heavily involved."

Mr Godbolt said Quant did tell police she supplied "an 8 ball, 3 ½ grams to another person".

Ms Hay queried that (in a police affidavit before her) Quant told police she supplied Gerrard with money but that it wasn't for drugs.

Mr Godbolt replied: "he received it as a drug debt she owed him". Ms Hay said texts reveal Gerrard was unhappy with his dealings with Quant.

Also "in recent weeks she was abducted, threatened, and kept in a car" for some hours, Ms Hay said.

Ms Hay noted the potential risk of reoffending and also a risk to her own safety if granted bail.

She granted strict bail that Quant only be released to her mother and go directly into the facility.