Sarah Elizabeth Spry fined in Mackay court for marijuana, underwear in handbag

A 31-year-old mother of three tried to take more than she paid for leading police to discover just what was in her handbag. DETAILS.

Sarah Elizabeth Spry faced Mackay Magistrates Court on Monday, January 29, 2024.

A mother of three on a “slippery slope to nowhere” has been caught with underwear from Best N Less in her bag by police.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Sarah Elizabeth Spry was shopping at the Caneland Central store on December 8 when she stashed a red set of lingerie in her handbag.

Police prosecutor Leonie Taufa’ao said staff alerted police officers who then took the Sarina mother to the centre’s Police Beat to search her handbag.

Along with the $18 of underwear still attached to the coathanger, officers found a large plastic blender and containers with 1.16g of mixed marijuana and tobacco as well as marijuana stems.

Ms Taufa’ao said Spry told officers she had paid for some underwear at the Best N Less checkout but had forgotten to pay for the red set.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Rosemary Varley said Spry, who had a relevant criminal history, had three children aged seven, three, and seven months.

She added Spry was completing a Certificate III in Business Administration and was visiting a doctor to obtain a prescription for medical marijuana.

Magistrate Damian Dwyer said it was Spry’s choice to halt was a “slippery slope to nowhere”.

Spry pleaded guilty to possession of utensils used in connection with a dangerous drug, unauthorised dealing with shop goods of $150 or less, contravening a police requirement or direction, and two counts of possession of dangerous drugs.

Mr Dwyer fined her $1200 and recorded convictions for all charges excluding the unauthorised dealing with shop goods.