Julie Louise Lyngkuist supplied meth and a highly addictive opioid in Capricornia Correctional Centre

A former drug trafficker has blamed the love bug for her latest offending after she supplied a significant amount of methamphetamines, along with a highly addictive opioid, to a prisoner at Etna Creek.

A former drug trafficker has blamed the love bug for her latest offending after she supplied a significant amount of methamphetamines, along with a highly addictive opioid, to a prisoner at Etna Creek.

Julie Louise Lyngkuist, 48, pleaded guilty on October 4, 2022, in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton to two counts of supplying dangerous drugs in a prison and one attempt to give a prisoner a prohibited item.

Crown prosecutor Caleb Theunissen said Lyngkuist’s two-page criminal record included a conviction in 2014 for trafficking marijuana as a member of a drug syndicate in the Emerald region.

He said her latest offences involved her visiting a prisoner at Capricornia Correctional Centre – Bruce William Perkins – on January 2, 2021, and handing him a parcel which he placed in his shorts.

Mr Theunissen said the pair was separated, as the action was captured on CCTV, and a search of the prisoner located the package near his scrotum.

Julie Louise Lyngkuist, 48.

The court heard the package contained two clip-seal bags of 6.756g of crystal substance which contained 4.911g of pure methamphetamines along with 146 strips of buprenorphine – a highly addictive opioid – and two cut, unused straws.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said her client’s business failed and her marriage broke down in 2014 after being convicted of the marijuana trafficking offence.

The court heard Lyngkuist had a minor role in the syndicate, trafficking only for a one-month period.

Ms Marsden said the mother of two struggled with mental and physical health and was subjected to neglect, along with physical and sexual abuse, as a child.

She said Lyngkuist did run a beauty business before the trafficking offending, which had been impacted by the 201o and 2011 floods in Central Queensland.

Ms Marsden said Lyngkuist had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependency.

She said her client had provided medical documentation showing she had CAT scans coming up along with a blood test and that she struggled with anaemia, iron deficiency and headaches.

Julie Louise Lyngkuist, 48.

Ms Marsden said these medical conditions had impacted Lyngkuist’s ability to obtain work at the moment and she was receiving Centrelink benefits.

She said her client had been working hard at staying clean from alcohol, drugs and criminal behaviours.

Justice Graeme Crow said the documents before him, including a report by psychiatrist Dr Lorna Duggan, indicated Lyngkuist felt Perkins had manipulated her and threatened her, and that was why she supplied him drugs in prison.

He said Perkins had told Lyngkuist he was struggling with his symptoms of headaches and migraines and couldn’t cope.

Justice Crow said the report outlined that Lyngkuist thought herself in love with Perkins and he had told Lyngkuist he would be bashed in the prison if she didn’t provide him with the illicit substances.

“Although there is no effective drug program like a methadone program or associated program at this prison and it was expected of prisoners that have been addicted will be suffering, that does not in any way, justify, excuse or pardon the act of someone such as (Lyngkuist) bringing drugs into the prison,” he said.

Justice Crow said many of those in the Capricornia Correctional Centre had “no chance in life unless they get away from drugs”.

“It has been good for the ones that can go cold turkey, get away from the drugs,” he said.

“People like (Lyngkuist) being prevailed upon to bring drugs into the prison mean those persons have got no chance.

“It is a sad fact that there are drugs in the prison because it means that those persons who are addicted will have virtually no chance of getting away from the drugs.”

Justice Crow said the amount of meth and buprenorphine was significant.

He said buprenorphine was a “powerful, powerful opioid that’s highly addictive”.

Julie Louise Lyngkuist, 48.

“It’s a reckless act to (supply drugs in a prison),” Justice Crow said.

“You must have known you were likely to be caught,” he told Lyngkuist.

The court heard Lyngkuist was no longer in a relationship with Perkins, who had since been released from prison.

Justice Crow sentenced Lyngkuist to 18 months in prison with parole release on March 3, 2023.