Drug dealer Rosemaree-Lee Ives chose meth her over own children

A drug dealing mother, who police linked to a wholesale seller, faces a jail term after she was caught selling a cocktail of drugs which included crystal meth, opioids, oxycodone, and cannabis.

A court heard an Ipswich mother’s drug addiction was so severe it led her down a path of crime and alienated her from her first born children.

Mother of six Rosemaree-Lee Ives faced Ipswich Magistrates Court today, Thursday, March 17, charged with supplying dangerous drugs.

The court heard that when addiction fuelled crimes like fraud landed her in jail, the mum was quick to sober up and re-evaluate her life.

Mother of six Rosemaree-Lee Ives faced Ipswich Magistrates Court today, Wednesday, March 17, charged with supplying a cocktail of drugs.

Crown prosecutor Michelle Parfitt said the 35-year-old spent 29 days in pre-sentence custody for other crimes during March and April in 2021.

The court heard the mother of six smoked and injected 1 ½ points of meth daily at the height of her addiction although had since passed a number of drug tests - the most recent in March 2022.

Ms Parfitt said Ives was caught selling drugs in 2019 and later in 2020 which breached a probation order.

The court heard Gatton police raided Ives’ home during February 2019, and uncovered text messages detailing the supply of methamphetamine, oxycodone, cannabis, and Buprenorphine.

Ms Parfitt said police again raided Ives’ home during October 2020 after they took out a ‘wholesale’ dealer and found messages between the pair.

On that occasion, Ives was caught arranging the sale of 28g of meth for $4200, and $250 worth of an unknown drug.

Ipswich Courthouse. Picture: Cordell Richardson

Ives’ legal representation said his client, who worked on a farm, was a different person at the time of the crimes.

The court heard Ives held great shame and regret for “choosing” drugs over her first family, and had since made considerable strides towards improving her life and was the sole carer of her six and eight-year-old daughters.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said while other offenders may claim they had turned a new leaf, Ives truly had, noting she was one year and eight days clean.

Judge Horneman-Wren said the crime of facilitating meth use throughout the community was abhorrent and hoped Ives would forgive him for stating she was a prime example of its harm.

“Four children are without their mother because of that drug,” he said.

Ives pleaded guilty to 25 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, one count of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime, and was sentenced to an 18 month jail term with immediate parole.