Amanda Kourtney Joy McDougall pleads guilty to receiving tainted property ahead of sentencing

A Sunshine Coast woman who was due to be sentenced for receiving stolen property has been warned by a magistrate after she allegedly tried to bring drugs into the courthouse.

A Sunshine Coast woman who was set to be sentenced for a string of stolen property offences has had her case adjourned after she allegedly attempted to bring drugs into the courthouse.

Amanda Kourtney Joy McDougall, 34, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 29, 2022, to receiving tainted property over a four-year period, with the most recent offence occurring in September, 2021.

McDougall’s solicitor, Patrick Meehan, asked for an adjournment after his client had allegedly been stopped by courthouse security on Friday when they found “some substances in her handbag”.

The court heard the tainted property relating to the stealing charges was mostly furniture items she’d received while in Doonan, Eumundi, Mountain Creek and Nambour.

It is alleged the Nambour resident had tried to sell those items, for which she is also charged with one count of attempted fraud.

However, police prosecutor Senior Constable David Hoffman said police were offering no further evidence in relation to charges against McDougall where she allegedly entered a dwelling to commit and indictable offence.

Amanda Kourtney Joy McDougall fronted Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 29, 2022.

Mr Meehan said there would be an “issue with totality” given the fresh possession charge.

Mr Meehan said McDougall had been issued by police with a notice to appear before court on August 15, 2022, following the discovery of the alleged drugs in her purse.

Despite initially wishing to proceed with the sentencing, Magistrate Rod Madsen adjourned the sentencing to September 2, 2022, to give police further time to align the updated charges with the court file.

“It’s just too hard to work out,” he said.

Mr Madsen said McDougall should consider herself lucky she’s not had her Supreme Court bail revoked because of the alleged drugs found by security.

“I hope you worked out the security guards don’t miss anything coming in,” Mr Madsen said.

“This is the second time this week (security had stopped someone).

“One lady pulled out her paraphernalia out of her pocket and threw it in the bowl, they didn’t have to go looking for it.”