Drug offenders named: Megan Letitia Turi Smith, Shaun Benjamin Fulton and Gina Louise Bartrop plead guilty to drugs charges

One Central Queensland mother had methamphetamines in her phone case while another had the same drug in her handbag. A dad was also busted with cannabis in his car after police stopped him randomly. Full details here.

A pipe being used to smoke methamphetamines. Generic image.

Two Central Queensland mothers busted with methamphetamines are among the latest to face court for drug offending.

They each pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 14 to their crimes, as did a father who was caught with cannabis.

Megan Letitia Turi Smith, 38, pleaded guilty to five charges - possessing methamphetamines and cannabis, as well as three counts of possessing drug items or utensils.

Police Prosecutor Stacey Bain said that on May 28 last year, police executed a search warrant at a Taranganba residence.

Ms Bain said Smith told police she had a bong in the laundry, and that was where the officers found other drug items.

More drugs utensils belonging to Smith were found in a bedroom.

Then on December 25 last year, police intercepted a Toyota Rav4 being driven by Smith in Braithwaite Street, Yeppoon.

“While speaking to police, (Smith) stated to police that she regularly smoked cannabis and she was on her way to her boyfriend’s (place),” Ms Bain said.

Ms Bain said police searched the vehicle and found a plastic bag containing 0.85g of cannabis inside Smith’s make-up bag which was on the passenger seat.

Officers also found meth (less than 0.5g) in a clip-seal bag which was in Smith’s phone case, the court heard.

Solicitor Krissy Cummins said Smith, a cleaner and single mother of four, was on parole at the time of committing these offences.

Magistrate Jason Schubert considered Smith’s one-page criminal history before placing her on probation for nine months with conditions.

Convictions were recorded.

A marijuana plant growing in a field. Generic photo. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP).

Shaun Benjamin Fulton, 31, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and drug utensils.

Prosecutor Ms Bain said that on February 11 this year, police were conducting random breath tests on the Burnett Highway at Jambin when Fulton was pulled over.

Ms Bain said that during a search, police found 12g of cannabis and a water pipe in the vehicle.

The court heard Fulton had a two-page criminal history which included previous drug offending.

Solicitor Krissy Cummins said Fulton was an unemployed father of two who was receiving Jobseeker allowance.

Ms Cummins said Fulton had previously been working but had lost that employment due to being unvaccinated.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Schubert noted Fulton had drug offending on his history including a supply offence in 2019.

Mr Schubert fined Fulton $1000 and did not record a conviction.

Gina Louise Bartrop, 32, pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamines.

The court heard that on February 11 this year, about 10.40pm, police saw Bartrop driving a vehicle which pulled out from bushland at Farnborough.

She was stopped for a random breath test and returned a negative to that.

Prosecutor Ms Bain said Bartrop told police she was a user of meth and cannabis.

During a search of the vehicle, police found a clip-seal bag containing 0.3g of meth in Bartrop’s handbag.

The court heard Bartrop had a one-page criminal history with similar offending on it.

Solicitor Krissy Cummins said Bartrop was a mother of three who worked as a cook and console operator.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Schubert noted that on Bartrop’s history were seven offences of drug supply.

Mr Schubert fined her $1000.

A conviction was recorded.