Renee Ripeka Pirere caught with drugs for third time in three years

A Capricorn Coast apprentice chef has been caught with drugs for the third time in as many years. Here’s what police found during a raid of her shared house.

A Capricorn Coast apprentice chef has escaped with a fine following her third cannabis possession offence in three years.

Renee Ripeka Pirere, 53, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on August 25 to possessing dangerous drugs and drugs utensils.

The court heard that on the afternoon of July 7, police executed a search warrant at Pirere’s William Street residence at Yeppoon.

Renee Ripeka Pirere.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said during the search, police found two clip-seal bags containing a total of 6.2g of cannabis, as well as a bong and electronic scales.

The court was told this was Pirere’s third drug possession offence in the past three years.

Solicitor Felicity Davis said Pirere, a mother of a teenage daughter, was working as an apprentice chef and she had now moved out of the shared house she was residing in at the time of the police search.

Ms Davis said Pirere planned to talk with her GP about the possibility of receiving medicinal cannabis.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale told Pirere she had to find another way of dealing with her issues, rather than using cannabis illegally.

Ms Beckinsale fined Pirere $850 and a conviction was recorded.