Rockhampton drug user, gambler Baylei Jade Maree Salway trafficked meth, marijuana

She didn’t like the rules at home so she turned to couch surfing and trafficking meth and marijuana to support her own habits. See what the judge had to say to her.

Baylei Jade Maree Salway is now a convicted drug trafficker after being sentenced in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton this week.

She didn’t like the rules at home so she turned to coach surfing and selling drugs to support her own habit.

This is the story of a young methamphetamines user sentenced this week in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton for trafficking meth and marijuana, resulting in a year-long stay in a Queensland’s women prison.

Baylei Jade Maree Salway, 24, carried out 67 supplies between September 25, 2022, and January 1, 2023.

Justice Graeme Crow said 52 supplies were for meth ranging from 0.1g to 10g of meth while the rest of the supplies were for marijuana, ranging from 7g to 220g.

The court heard Salway had provided her phone to police investigating an assault and Salway’s phone contained photographs and video of the incident.

This was how they uncovered her trafficking business, where she advertised prices and messages about sourcing drugs.

Justice Crow said she offered 7g of marijuana for $120 in a Snapchat group of 128 people, but there was no evidence anyone took up her offer.

The police found her tick sheet in the notes section of the phone.

Baylei Jade Maree Salway was told by the judge: “We can’t just do what we want.”

Justice Crow said there were even messages revealing the young drug dealer had issued threats of violence towards those she believed owed her money, including sending a group to visit one particular customer to make threats.

He said her trafficking business partly funded the unemployed woman’s drug and gambling habits.

Salway was arrested at Glenmore Tavern with police finding her in possession of $1050 cash and her phone was seized.

Police also searched her car parked outside the tavern and found 4.265g of pure meth in 5.635g substance.

Defence barrister Scott Moon said Salway, who was supported in court by her family, had been couch surfing as “she didn’t like the rules at home”.

He said her attitude had significantly change since she was charged for trafficking and being away from her family in a women’s prison for 370 days before sentencing.

“Her family means the world to her,” Mr Moon said.

He said this was her first time in custody and doesn’t want to repeat the experience.

“Meth has been her downfall,” Mr Moon said.

He said her parents do not tolerate drugs, but were willing to have her back at home.

Salway started using MDMA at 17 years of age and moved on to meth.

The court heard Salway had a bad probation report from prior to her incarceration, and had “gone to rehab to get away from drugs” but took drugs with her to rehab.

“Society has lots of rules,” Justice Crow said.

“We can’t just do what we want.

“If we all did what we want, no one would work.

“We would sit around all day doing nothing.

“When you want something, just go and bash someone up and steal their stuff.

“And then they come back and bash you and your family up and steal your stuff.

“And we’d have anarchy.”

Salway pleaded guilty on February 13 to one count of trafficking drugs and one of possessing more than 2g of a schedule one drug.

Justice Crow took into account her 370 days in presentence custody when he sentenced her to three years prison with immediate release on parole.