Two-time ice trafficker pushes for early release
The 35 year old was pushing wholesale and street-level amounts of the dangerous drug across the Mackay region.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A TWO-time Mackay ice trafficker lost her fight for an earlier release date after the Queensland Court of Appeal rejected claims her latest jail term was too harsh.
Lauren Elizabeth Piccles - who has a drug history dating back 14 years - has already had "several opportunities" to remain in the community, each time flouting court orders with more offending.
In December last year, the 35 year old had another four years added to the time she was already serving after pleading guilty in Mackay Supreme Court to trafficking methylamphetamines in 2018.
For just more than a month between July and August Piccles pushed wholesale and street-level amounts of ice in the Mackay region.
Because Piccles already had jail terms hanging over her head - for offending dating back to 2006 - the latest court order added at least another 12 months of actual custody.
She cannot apply for parole release until April 24 next year.
Power cuts homes, but no rain damage
More stories:
Ice trafficker 'corrupted' teen girlfriend
Schoolboy's entrepreneurial venture lands him in court
Glamour launders cash for ice kingpin boyfriend
Father jailed for fatal explosion that decapitated son
Defence barrister James Benjamin, for Piccles, argued the time she would ultimately spend in jail because of the cumulative sentences was just shy of the halfway mark for a term totalling five years, eight months and 10 days.
"He submitted that demonstrated that insufficient allowance, by way of early release, had been given to the plea of guilty and other mitigating circumstances," Justice Peter Davis said in a an appeal court judgment.
More stories:
Father's face sliced open in freak Seaforth accident
Man accused of sexual acts against dog and child
Why Mackay glamour was back in court today
"In my view, it is inappropriate to assess the severity of the sentence imposed on the latest trafficking charge as if it, and the balance to be served on earlier sentences were, in effect, together one sentence."
"When an offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, they are, from that point, liable to serve the entirety of the term of imprisonment."
In 2011 Piccles received a five-year suspended jail term for ice trafficking in 2006 and 2007 - she had absconded while on bail but eventually handed herself in to police.
She breached that order with more drug offending and was released on parole.
"She then breached parole by committing further offences and attracting a further term of imprisonment for which she again received parole," Justice Davis said.
"She then again breached her parole by trafficking in methylamphetamine.
" (Piccles) had been given several opportunities to serve the earlier terms in the community."
Subscriber benefits:
Your questions about the new Daily Mercury format answered
How to make the most of your digital subscription
Daily puzzles and Sudoku another reason to stay subscribed
Justice Davis said Piccles's latest penalty had been structured so she would serve the remainder of her earlier sentences in custody and be eligible for parole after only 25 per cent of the four-year term.
"In my view the sentence is not manifestly excessive and I would dismiss the application," Justice Davis said.
Outback town now a ‘playground for criminals,’ leaders warn
KAP leader Robbie Katter has blasted the state government, claiming it has lost control of Mount Isa’s spiralling crime crisis after residents recently endured a ‘hellish’ crime wave.
Young man hospitalised after late night crash
A young man has been hospitalised after a crash in the Mackay region overnight.