Child psychologist Natasha Hutchison sentenced for fraud, using a false identity and possessing dangerous and restricted drugs

A court has heard how a child psychologist forged documents and used a false identity before being busted with drugs including ketamine, oxycodone and morphine.

Natasha Rosalie Hutchison leaves Maroochydore Magistrates Court after being sentenced fraud and possessing drugs including ketamine and morphine.

A “cunning ” child psychologist’s sophisticated scheme to access drugs including ketamine, morphine and oxycodone came undone when police tracked a parcel locker back to her.

Natasha Rosalie Hutchison, 37, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years’ probation and slapped with a $1000 fine after pleading guilty to dozens of charges including drug possession, fraud and using a false identity.

Hutchison was charged with the offences in June last year after police seized several dangerous and restricted drugs, empty capsules, clip seal bags, a mobile phone and a computer during a raid on her home and business place.

Among the drugs found in Hutchison’s possession were ketamine, oxycodone, methadone, morphine and diazepam.

Natasha Hutchison leaves Maroochydore Magistrates Court after being sentenced fraud and possessing drugs including ketamine and morphine.

Police found the mobile phone stuffed in Hutchison’s bra during the raid.

Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said Hutchison had used another person’s details to obtain packages containing restricted drugs and had forged a signature on a document.

There was evidence Hutchison had used the computer to purchase restricted drugs and used applications which hid a person’s identity.

Hutchison’s offending came undone when she had packages delivered to a parcel locker which police were able to track back to her, the Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard.

Senior Constable Burrell said Hutchison’s offending was sophisticated and warranted a period of imprisonment.

He said the matter was so “unique” that he had not been able to find relevant precedents for magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist to compare the case to when sentencing her.

Hutchison pleaded guilty at an earlier mention to 30 offences including seven charges of possess dangerous drugs, seven charges of not being endorsed to possess restricted drugs and unlawful possession of restricted drugs.

Her charges also included fraud and obtain or deal with another entity’s identification information for purpose of committing or facilitating the commission of an indictable offence.

Defence lawyer Patrick Meehan said Hutchison had “stepped away” from practising psychology since being charged, but was intending to return to the field in the future.

A search of Hutchison’s psychology registration on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency revealed she was a registered but non-practising psychologist in Australia, meaning she legally cannot practise.

Natasha Hutchison has “stepped away” from her role as a psychologist but intends to return to practising in the future. Picture: Iain Curry

Hutchison previously practised at Spectrum Psychology Centre in Coolum, but she is no longer listed on the centre’s website.

Mr Meehan said Hutchison liked helping people as a psychologist and wanted to return to the industry after undergoing rehabilitation for her opioid use.

He said Hutchison, who is from New Zealand, was prescribed the various opioids and other drugs in New Zealand, and for a time in Australia, to treat spinal pain, an ankle injury and complications from a C-section.

“(She has a) Long history of having been prescribed these heavy drugs for pain management,” Mr Meehan said.

Mr Meehan tendered character references from Hutchison’s parents and said her mother had travelled from New Zealand to support her in court.

Mr Stjernqvist said Hutchison’s fraud charges were extremely serious and said she had been “cunning, planning and deceptive”.

He sentenced Hutchison to three years’ probation and fined her $1000.

No conviction was recorded.

Mr Stjernqvist warned Hutchison that she needed to continue her path towards rehabilitation after being sentenced.

“(It’s a) work in progress,” he said.

“You have to adhere to, abide by, commit to (rehabilitation) going forward to make sure you jettison any addictions you have acquired over the years.”