Mackay mum Vanessa Lee Stringer sentenced for drug supply, possession

A soon-to-be Mackay grandmother has returned to court for the second time in two years after she was caught supplying a small quantity of meth.

After appearing in magistrates court in 2023, a Qld mother of two and soon to be grandmother returned to the Mackay courthouse, this time on charges of supplying drugs to the community. Photo: Zoe Devenport

A soon-to-be grandmother returned to court for the second time in two years after she was caught supplying a small quantity of meth.

Vanessa Stringer, 46, appeared in Mackay District Court on September 13 after being charged with possession of meth and supplying drugs.

Stringer previously appeared in the Mackay Magistrates Court on fraud charges after she was found in possession of drugs and stolen items which she then sold.

Stringer’s latest offences began while she was on parole for previous drug offences when, on September 27, 2023 she was charged with possessing and distributing approximately 0.1 gram of meth, after police executed two searches at her home.

Evidence was found on her phone, which Stringer provided the PIN for, co-operating with police.

She was then taken into custody and imprisoned for a total of 134 days between September 2023 and February 2024.

Crown prosecutor Faroook Anoozer said, in his opinion, Ms Stringer was a serious drug offender.

“Within a few months of being released on parole she committed drug related offences and fraud as well,” Mr Anoozer said.

“She was lucky enough at that time to get a fine.”

Mr Anoozer said the fact Stringer was a mature woman on parole was an aggravating factor and said Stringer required further supervision and recommended she be placed on probation.

The court heard when Stringer was released from custody on bail she reported to police twice weekly and had a curfew of 9pm to 5am imposed upon her.

Police were also empowered to perform drugs tests on Stringer if it seemed she was drug affected.

Stringer was tested once and the results came back negative, which barrister Scott McLennan said indicated her abstinence from drugs.

Supporting her in court was her four-month pregnant daughter, employer and a friend.

The court heard since Stringer’s release on bail she found employment, sought financial management counselling and was in the position to soon make a deposit on housing.

A character reference from Stringer’s employer was also heard and stated she had been a valuable asset to the business.

Judge Sheridan said to disrupt the progress Stringer was making would be problematic.

“All of those factors suggest that you have, to your credit, got your life on track,” Judge Sheridan said.

“It doesn’t take away from supplying drugs to the community, I accept that.”

The court heard Stringer regarded her time in custody as having “saved her” as she said it allowed her to remain abstinent from drugs and process the death of her partner.

She pleaded guilty to all charges.

Judge Sheridan, after taking into account the mitigating factors of Stringer’s co-operation with police and the aggravating factors of her previous offences, concluded the appropriate sentence would be one that had Stringer remain in the community.

“Your full rehabilitation will be better achieved by allowing you to remain in the community and that you would be best served by a period of probation,” Judge Sheridan said.

Stringer was sentenced to a suspended imprisonment of 15 months with a probation period of two years attached and convictions were recorded for each charge.