Twyla Tamika Robbins pleads guilty to drug charges

A mum-of-six who held her child as they took their last breath following a freak accident at home has fallen into drug abuse but has vowed to kick the habit. WARNING: Distressing topic

Twyla Tamika Robbins with her lawyer Colin Murray at Murgon Magistrates Court.

After a mum’s young child was killed in a freak accident and died in her arms, her life eventually spun out of control with drugs but hopes to get her life back on track, a court has heard.

Twyla Tamika Robbins pleaded guilty to eight drug related charges at Murgon Magistrates Court on Wednesday, including possessing drug utensils and failing to dispose of used syringes.

Police prosecutor Lisa Manns said on two separate occasions, police intercepted a car where Robbins was the passenger and found her in possession of drug utensils and used syringes.

“They intercepted a motor vehicle travelling along the Bunya Highway towards Wondai,” Sergeant Manns said.

After searching the vehicle and Robbins, they found .2 grams of methamphetamine along with a “used needle and syringe.”

The 32-year-old told police she had forgotten to discard it in a “used sharps container.”

Sgt Manns told the court Robbins had purchased the meth for $100 from Kingaroy.

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On another occasion, Murgon police stopped a vehicle on Scott St in Wondai with Robbins in the passenger seat and again found drug utensils, clip seal bags and used needles.

Twyla Tamika Robbins with her lawyer Colin Murray at Murgon Magistrates Court.

The court heard in January 2024, police executed a search warrant at Robbins address in Wondai where they found used syringes and utensils.

Robbins solicitor, Colin Murray from Murray Law explained the tragic circumstances that led to Robbins drug habit.

“She’s a mother of six children, one of those children is deceased,” Mr Murray said.

“(She) suffered a terrible tragedy around 10 years ago when her second child was crushed by a very large … television. It had toppled onto the young child and died in her arms with her two other young children with her.

Mr Murray said since the tragedy, Robbins has suffered from PTSD and attended grief counselling for years.

“Unfortunately, after about four or five years, my client fell off the rails,” he said.

Twyla Tamika Robbins at Murgon Magistrates Court.

Mr Murray said the events had affected Robbins “ability to cope” where she eventually turned to substance misuse.

“My client still has young children in her care … she is seeking help at this point, along with her partner.

“They have engaged with a psychiatrist and are also doing counselling through Lives Lived Well and CTC are also offering assistance.”

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Mr Murray said Robbins has been “scared straight” by the recent events and it was “the tipping point for her”.

“She has realised that misusing substances is certainly not helping her.

“She’s been trying to better herself recently … it’s been an up and down battle with her and her PTSD.

“She’s going to be trying her very best to ensure that she stays on the straight and narrow … and hopefully the substance misuse becomes a thing of the past,” Mr Murray said.

In making his ruling, Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said a period of probation may assist Robbins.

“I can offer you the benefit of probation and hope you can finally kick your drug addiction … This will see you supervised for two years,” he said.

Requirements of Robbins probation include taking part in any counselling and other programs as directed, along with mandatory drug testing.

Robbins also must not commit any other offences during that time.

Convictions were recorded.