Bronte Lee Soden pleads guilty to meth supply

A mother of three felt she had to help her dad with his alleged meth peddling business because he had put a roof over her head. Find out how it came undone.

A Dysart mother of three felt she had to help her dad with his alleged meth peddling business because he had put a roof over her head.

Bronte Lee Soden was picked up through a police sting focusing on methylamphetamine distribution in Central Queensland.

Mackay District Court heard Brenton Victor Soden was a target as part of the operation and Bronte Soden is his daughter.

Crown prosecutor Lara Soldi said Soden facilitated the supply of meth including a small amount to her dad and a quantity to her associates “that had a significant amount of money attached to it” ($1000) and actually supplied meth to others.

Her offending was in October and November 2020 with some occurring even after she “had an interaction with police” when she and her dad were pulled over on the Peak Downs Highway on October 14.

The court heard the pair had been travelling to Mackay so her father could allegedly source drugs to onsell.

Ms Soldi said during a pat down search police found a small amount of meth stashed in her shoe – there was also 165 grams of marijuana (worth about $2000) hidden in a false floor of the car.

Soden claimed ownership of the marijuana but Ms Soldi said the Crown alleged it was owned jointly with her dad.

The 32 year old pleaded guilty to 10 charges including supplying methylamphetamines, refusing to allow police access to her mobile phone and other drug-related offences. She has spent 156 days in custody.

Barrister Scott McLennan said his client had been offered a job at Dawson mine at Biloela on a lifestyle roster.

The court heard she had also attended on the Lives Lived Well addiction support program.

Ms Soldi said it was accepted Soden’s involvement was lesser than that alleged against her father.

Mr McLennan agreed immediate parole and probation were in range.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren said Soden had a criminal history for drugs but this was the mother of three’s first time in the district court and was “a serious escalation in your offending”.

The court heard Soden had been in a toxic relationship that ended in 2020 and moved in with her parents.

“Your father had a methylamphetamine addiction and was (allegedly) supplying it to others,” Judge Rosengren said.

“I’m told that you felt indebted to your father, who had put a roof over the head of you and your children and this is reflective of your willingness to take the rap for that cannabis that was found when the car was searched.

“If you don’t do something to kick this drug habit, (you) are going to end up in a downward spiral.”

Soden was jailed for 12 months with immediate parole. Convictions were recorded.