Liz Beth Jamieson sentenced for 24 counts of supplying a dangerous drug

An interesting find during a police search of a Sunshine Coast woman’s home has exposed the former Brisbane Women’s Corrections Centre staffer’s drug dealings.

A former corrections officer who started “abusing drugs” after her employment ended has been sentenced for supplying methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA.

Liz Beth Jamieson, 31, was sentenced to two years imprisonment and granted immediate parole in Maroochydore District Court on Tuesday.

Judge Gary Long explained the parole requirements to Jamieson in court.

“You probably have some idea how this worked when you were in corrective services” he said.

Jamieson pleaded guilty on April 19 to 24 counts of supplying a dangerous drug, one count of possessing anything used in the commission of crime, and 10 summary drug related offences.

Crown prosecutor Madalyn Olivero said police found a phone containing text messages about “12 supplies of methamphetamine actually happened and discussion of payment for those supplies” during a search of Jamieson’s Sunshine Coast home on January 24, 2021.

The court heard the text messages dated back to July and October 2020.

Jamieson was granted bail in January 2021 however she was arrested in February after police discovered cocaine, methamphetamine, drug utensils and nearly $6000 in cash in her car in Coochin Creek.

Ms Olivero suggested Jamieson should receive a sentence of “at least 18-months” and asked for supervision because of her “reoffending so soon after being released on bail”.

Defence barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown asked for immediate parole for his client after she had spent some time in jail previously and “had a difficult time doing it” because of her past employment.

“She had to be moved to Townsville away from this area and family,” Mr Ygoa-McKeown said.

“She has not reoffended in over 12 months, she has the support measures in place.”

Judge Long said he accepted a prison term would be difficult for Jamieson, especially due to her previous employment and the “unusual circumstances”.

The court heard Jamieson was previously a disability support worker and helped at the Parks Centre in Wacol before moving roles to become a corrective services officer in the Brisbane Women’s Corrections Centre between 2014 and 2017.

“The end of that employment at the end of 2017 seems to coincide with the end of a relationship and other stresses in your life, that led to you using drugs and of course using drugs leads to the abuse of drugs,” Judge Long said.

“That coincides with your criminal history in 2017.”

The money police seized was forfeited to the state.