Timothy James Lester and Lucy Jane Theyers’s court date for drug trafficking sentence

Two Springfield Lakes parents have narrowly avoided jail time after they were caught trafficking $17,000-worth of drugs.

A Springfield Lakes husband and wife have faced court as co-accuseds on drug trafficking charges.

Forklift driver Timothy James Lester and customer service attendant Lucy Jane Theyers, both 36, both pleaded guilty on September 2, 2022, to trafficking dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used.

Lester also pleaded guilty to an additional charge of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime and unlawful possession of weapons.

The court heard the two had trafficked cannabis for a short period of just under three months in 2020.

In that time, they made 57 transactions to 20 customers in varying quantities of an ounce to a pound — selling a total of approximately 4kg of cannabis for around $17,000.

Prosecutor Michelle Parfitt said Lester was the main operator, as it had been his two phones that contained incriminating messages seized as evidence.

The police searched the couple’s house in June 2020, and found a ‘growing area’ under the house which contained six cannabis plants growing with lights, fans, fertiliser, tubing and a tent.

They also found 10 grams of cannabis in jars under the house, 55 grams in jars in the kitchen and an air rifle which Lester confirmed belonged to him.

Ms Parfitt noted the plants found growing under the house were for the defendants’ own personal use.

The court heard the defendants lacked criminal history, and had moved to New Zealand with their two children since their offending.

Defence barrister Robert Carroll said Lester had a “rather unusual pathway” to his offending, as he had taken over the business from a friend who had stepped away from the business for his mental health.

Judge Horneman-Wren emphasised the seriousness of offending, saying “as long as [cannabis] remains illegal, people have to understand, that’s precisely what it is, and trafficking in it is trafficking in a dangerous drug”.

He said it would be a burden on the Australian community to sentence Lester and Theyers to actual imprisonment, with no significant benefit, and noted they would likely suffer extra-curial punishment of restricted travel as convicted drug traffickers.

“The chances of taking your kids to Disneyland are I think completely non-existent,” said Judge Horneman-Wren.

Lester received a head sentence of two years imprisonment, suspended immediately for an operational period of two years.

Theyers received a head sentence of 18 months imprisonment, suspended immediately for an operational period of two years.

Convictions were recorded.