Yeppoon woman Renee Ripeka Pirere pleads guilty to drugs charges

A mother, while not charged with supply nor commerciality offending, was one of the people charged after police acted on information supplied and executed a search warrant as part of their investigations. Here’s what happened.

A Yeppoon woman has faced court after police were given a tip-off that drugs were being sold in a street at the Capricorn Coast.

It was not alleged there was any supply nor commerciality to 53-year-old Renee Ripeka Pirere’s offending when she pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on June 23 to possessing dangerous drugs and possessing drug utensils.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said on March 15 police were supplied with information that drugs were being sold in William Street, Yeppoon.

Sgt Ongheen said on March 23, police executed a search warrant at a William Street residence.

There, police found a plastic container which contained about 1.1g of cannabis in the living area.

Sgt Ongheen said Pirere told police that she smoked the drug to calm herself down and deal with PTSD and other mental health issues.

Police also found two glass water pipes belonging to Pirere in the shower in the bathroom, which smelt of burnt cannabis, Sgt Ongheen said.

The court heard that Pirere had previous offending on her history for possessing dangerous drugs.

Solicitor Krissy Cummins said Pirere was a mother of one who was working as an apprentice chef until losing that employment recently.

Magistrate Cameron Press fined Pirere $700 and he did not record a conviction.