Tracey Ann Butler in Rockhampton court for supplying meth to friends

A 50-year-old mum had an unblemished criminal history - until she started meth in her 40s. The addictive drug would be her undoing.

A McDonald's restaurant. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A mother-of-three who started using methamphetamines in her 40s has found herself in the district court for serious charges.

Tracey Ann Butler, 50, only had one entry on her criminal record before she faced sentencing in Rockhampton District Court on Wednesday, September 25 for nine drug supply charges - three which were actual supplies of meth, Crown prosecutor Cameron Keast said.

Butler’s one entry was for leaving a hotel without paying her bill in 2018 for which she received a fine and no conviction was recorded.

Mr Keast said the supply charge dates ranged from December 23, 2023 to March 14, 2023, with the amounts ranging from 0.2 grams to one gram.

He said eight supplies or offers were to one woman and the one other was to another woman.

Defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said those women were all Butler’s friends.

Mr Keast said the offending was uncovered during a search of Butler’s residence.

Mr Ahlstrand said his client declared a used meth pipe and provided the pin code to her phone when requested, which revealed the messages about supplying drugs.

He said his client, who had been using marijuana since she was 16, had been introduced to meth when she was 43.

He said Butler and her sister were left with a gardener friend by their biological parents for about 18 months when they were children.

Mr Ahlstrand said when their biological father returned, “he was in the grips of alcoholism” and she alleges he was physically violent towards both herself and her sister.

He said they left the home when Butler was 15 and her sister was 18.

Mr Ahlstrand said his client started working at McDonald’s when she was 18 and had also worked in housekeeping at the Regent Hotel in Rockhampton, and in the kitchen and housekeeping at the Best Western Cattle City Motor Inn.

He said she is currently the assistant manager at Burger Urge.

Mr Ahlstrand said Butler had been separated from her husband a few years ago and all three of their children live with their father.

Butler pleaded guilty to all nine supply charges as well as one of possessing anything used in the commission of a drug supply.

She was sentenced to 18 months prison, wholly suspended with an operational three years.