Central Queensland mum of 8, Alicia Maree Cartwright, busted for drug offences again

The mother was told she had to “get on top of” her drug problem because “you can’t be raising children in a house where there is illicit drug use”. Here’s what happened to her in court.

A Central Queensland mother of eight has faced court again for drug offending. Generic image.

A Central Queensland mother of eight has been told to “get on top of” her drug problem while facing court again for drug offending.

Alicia Maree Cartwright, 34, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on June 30 to two counts of possessing drug items and one count of possessing a knife in public.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said that at 12.30am on June 26, police were patrolling when they saw a group of people, including Cartwright, seated at a bus stop on Appleton Drive, Yeppoon.

Sgt Ongheen said police stopped and spoke to the group.

During a search of Cartwright’s bag, police found a glass water pipe which smelt of burnt cannabis.

They also found a pair of scissors which also smelt of cannabis, and a fold-out knife with an 8.5cm blade.

All of the items were seized.

The court heard that Cartwright had previous drug offending on her criminal history.

Solicitor Ashley Reynolds said Cartwright had eight children aged 15 and under.

Ms Reynolds said at the time Cartwright was stopped by police, she had all of her belongings in her bag, and the knife was a gift from her father which had sentimental value.

Ms Reynolds submitted for the knife to be returned to Cartwright on that basis, and she said Cartwright now knew she could not carry it in public.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Cameron Press noted that Cartwright had previously been in court for drug matters.

“You must continue to get on top of that, right,” Mr Press told Cartwright.

“Otherwise there’s going to continue to be problems... you can’t be raising children in a house where there is illicit drug use.”

Mr Press placed Cartwright on probation for 10 months with conditions including drug testing and drug counselling.

Convictions were recorded.

The drug items were forfeited to the Crown and Cartwright was permitted to have the knife returned to her.