Rani Lenore Andrews pleads guilty to drug charges

A mother claims she turned to the drug ice to dull ongoing back pain she suffered after childbirth, after finding that no other medication seemed to help.

A MUM blames her use of the drug ice on the lasting effects of an epidural she received during childbirth that left her with back pain and leg numbness.

An Ipswich court has heard how the 39-year-old mother turned to methylamphetamine after being told it helps with pain relief.

Rani Lenore Andrews, from Collingwood Park, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court to six offences with two charges of being in possession of the dangerous drug schedule 1 (methylamphetamine) quantity exceeding schedule 3 at Bellbird Park on April 14 and on May 7 last year; possession of property used in a drug offence; and three charges of being in possession of drug utensils.

Police prosecutor Ricky Tsoi said the two serious drug offences involved 7.54 grams of a substance that when analysed proved to be 5.12 grams of pure methamphetamine.

The second involved 5.54 grams of substance that was 2.96 grams of pure methamphetamine.

Defence lawyer Dante Sushames said Andrews instructed that she was given an epidural during birthing procedures in 2015 and that this caused her spinal damage.

“Even now she can’t feel her right leg (at times). She suffers great pain to her back,” Mr Sushames said.

“She was told, received information that amphetamines are a good pain relief.

“ She informs that it got her up and about and dulled the pain.

“That is why she was so desperate as nothing else seemed to work for her.

“It was only for personal use. There was no commerciality.”

Rani Andrews blamed her meth use on back pain after childbirth.

Mr Sushames said Andrews was also being treated for anxiety and depression and says amphetamines also stabilised that.

“The addiction worked for her. It all stems from the incident in 2105 really,” he said.

“She tells me she will persist with prescribed medication.”

Mr Sushames said the delay in the case was due to her charges being referred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

With no allegation of commerciality the case was returned to the lower court.

Magistrate Jacqueline Payne said the offences occurred between April 2020 and May this year.

She said Andrews had taken responsibility for her actions, however it was serious because of the quantity of the drug.

Ms Payne said she took into account a medical report and her personal circumstances saying, “you used methylamphetamine in the past to dull the pain after a birthing experience in 2015.”

Andrews was sentenced to an 18-month supervised probation order that is intended to assist her.