Emma Jane Facey fell into meth addiction but was clean after time in custody

The 27-year-old had amassed five pages of criminal history in just three years but was now looking to be free of meth addiction.

The mother of four pleaded guilty to a string of stealing offences committed to support her meth habit.

In just three years, drug use had driven a Toowoomba mother of four to amass a five-page criminal history which had her spending time in jail.

When arrested on December 14, Emma Jane Facey had not applied for bail, preferring instead to use the time in custody to get clean of meth, her solicitor Claire Graham, of Skuse Graham Lawyers, told Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

The 27-year-old as a result missed Christmas with her children, who lived with her mother, but she was now clean and looking much better, Ms Graham said.

Facey appeared by video link from the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre to plead guilty to two counts of unlawfully using motor vehicles and a string of stealing and attempted stealing offences.

Police prosecutor Cameron Francis said the stealing offences occurred mainly in Grand Central stores and amounted to $3676.

Mr Francis said Facey’s criminal history started when she was 24 but she had since amassed 15 convictions for stealing.

Ms Graham said her client stole to support her drug habit.

Facey had “lost the plot” after the deaths of a number of people close to her and had fallen into meth addiction.

Ms Graham said she had suggested grief counselling and psychiatric help to her client who intended living with a friend’s mother in Toowoomba upon her release from custody.

Facey would remain under the supervision of parole until October this year, she said.

Noting Facey had spent 48 days in custody, Magistrate Howard Osborne sentenced her to nine months in jail but ordered the whole term be suspended for 18 months.

Originally published as Emma Jane Facey fell into meth addiction but was clean after time in custody