Brandi Jasmin Gilligan in Rockhampton court for stealing and fraud

A mother’s life “spiralled out of control” following a tragic loss that saw her develop a methamphetamine habit and end up behind bars.

Brandi Gilligan.

A mother’s life “spiralled out of control” following a tragic loss that saw her develop a methamphetamine habit and end up behind bars.

Brandi Jasmin Gilligan, 28, was taken into custody on June 6 and sentenced in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Friday for more than 10 charges.

The court heard Gilligan’s offending started in August 2023.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert said Gilligan had made an appointment for lash extensions and did not pay for the beauty work.

Ms Kahlert said Gilligan was repeatedly asked to pay for the lash extensions and that the small business was ultimately $100 out of pocket.

She said Gilligan’s offending also involved not paying for fuel, stealing a Ryobi blower that she pawned, driving with meth in her system, driving on three occasions while demerit point suspended and failing to appear in court.

“The total offending indicates an ongoing disregard for the law,” she said.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Darrell Dalton said Gilligan was on a suspended sentence at the time she committed the offences before the court.

Defence lawyer Brian McGowran said his client had picked up an amphetamine habit after her three-year-old daughter with spina bifida passed away two years ago.

“Prior to that she had her life on track,” he said.

“She hasn’t really spoken to a counsellor about that.”

Mr McGowran said his client wanted to get some counselling.

The court heard Gilligan had financial problems.

Mr McGowran said his client only received $800 a fortnight, with $500 going towards rent.

“It’s an incredible struggle,” he said.

Ms Kahlert said since 2022, Gilligan’s life had “spiralled out of control”.

“You have had some difficulties financially and you have also perhaps had some issues with methamphetamine,” she said.

“I was told you have had the most unfortunate circumstance of losing another child earlier, and I am sorry to hear that, and it seems you haven’t dealt with that appropriately and instead have self medicated with methamphetamine, which is possibly the worst thing you could do.

“It is extremely addictive and extremely destructive drug.

“It is very hard to get clean off meth.”

Gilligan pleaded guilty to four counts of stealing, two counts of fraud, three counts each of driving while demerit point disqualified, and failing to appear in court, and one count each of assaulting a police officer, drug driving, and breaching bail.

Ms Kahlert sentenced Gilligan to four months prison for the stealing and fraud charges.

Gilligan was sentenced to one-month prison, to be served at the same time, for the assaulting a police officer and driving while demerit point disqualified charges.

She was sentenced to one-month prison, to be served on top of the other sentence, for two of the failure to appear charges.

She was convicted and not further punished for the drug driving, breaching bail and one of the failure to appear charges.

Ms Kahlert activated the six-month suspended sentence, which was handed down on December 16, 2022, for a dangerous operation while affected by intoxicating substance charge, and ordered it be served at the time.

She declared 22 days presentence custody as time already served and set parole release at July 8, 2024.

Gilligan was also ordered to pay $100 restitution and was disqualified from driving for 21 months.