Teenager Olivia Gwen Wells-Dean busted with cannabis and cocaine in Bruce Highway car search

When police stopped a red Toyota Corolla at Sarina for a random breath test, they made an alarming discovery inside the Rockhampton woman’s car. Here’s what they found.

A Rockhampton teenager busted with a “substantial amount” of cannabis and also cocaine during a search of her vehicle on the Bruce Highway, has faced court.

Olivia Gwen Wells-Dean, 19, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 21 to possessing both of the drugs.

Police Prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said about 7.25am on September 16 last year, a police officer from Mackay intercepted Wells-Dean on the Bruce Highway at Sarina for a random breath test.

Snr Const Rowe said police could immediately smell cannabis inside the vehicle and a search was conducted.

During the search, police found 28g of cannabis concealed in a drink bottle as well as two clip-seal bags containing cocaine and two containers with cannabis in.

One of the clip-seal bags contained 0.271g of cocaine and the other 0.286g.

The court heard that Wells-Dean had no criminal history.

A solicitor said Wells-Dean had been having some difficulties with her mental health and she had been using drugs recreationally as a coping strategy.

“She’s moved on from that now,” the solicitor said, before adding that Wells-Dean had been seeing a psychologist.

“She has also been trialling medications and seeking to obtain a formal diagnosis, in which case then once she has the proper diagnosis, she can commit to a proper medication regime to treat that.

“Her plan is, she wants to transition back into the workforce - she has left work because she was struggling with her mental health in such a way that she was finding it too hard.

“She’s also returned to studying and she’s nearly finished the course she started.”

The solicitor made a submission for a good behaviour order but Magistrate Cameron Press was having none of that.

“She’s not getting good behaviour bond for having cocaine and 28g of cannabis - that would send the wrong message to the community,” Mr Press said.

“This defendant needs assistance - 28g of cannabis is a substantial amount and cocaine is a dangerous drug.”

The solicitor then said Mr Press could impose a probation order and not record a conviction.

Mr Press placed Wells-Dean on probation for 12 months with conditions including a requirement to attend drug counselling.

No convictions were recorded.