Kelly-Ann May Sinclair turned her life around while in jail, court told

The 37-year-old mother of three’s efforts at rehabilitation while held in custody were “truly astonishing”, the sentencing judge said.

An extended stint in jail had hopefully turned a long-term drug user’s life around, the 37-year-old mother of three’s barrister has submitted to the Toowoomba Supreme Court.

“This may be the circuit breaker she needs,” barrister Steve Kissick said of his client Kelly-Ann May Sinclair.

Sinclair appeared in custody to plead guilty to trafficking ice and occasionally the dangerous drug GHB between September 4, 2020, and January 10, 2021.

Crown prosecutor Philip McCarthy QC said Sinclair had been subject to two suspended sentences, a probation order and bail at the time of the trafficking which she continued despite twice being arrested by police.

A search of her mobile phone had led police to ascertain she had a drug customer base of 25 to whom she sold primarily meth on at least 51 occasions during the four-month period with 41 actual supplies, he said.

Mr Kissick said Sinclair had a drug problem dating back some 17 years and she had spent time in jail before.

However, this 14-month stint had been by far the longest time she had been in custody, and she had used that time to get off drugs, was attending Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, had completed a number of drug rehabilitation programs, was working in the prison and taken on a responsible role, he said.

Justice Martin Burns said Sinclair’s efforts at getting her life on track while in jail were “truly astonishing” but jail was a controlled environment and she would have to be vigilant in staying away from drugs when released back into the community.

“You have an appalling criminal history,” Justice Burns told Sinclair.

“It is already 12 pages long, and you’ll be onto the 13th page after this (sentencing).”

Justice Burns said ordinarily Sinclair was looking at a sentence of four and a half years.

However, noting she had spent 435 days in pre-sentence custody that wouldn’t be declared under the sentence and “to reflect the impressive effort while in custody”, Justice Burns sentenced Sinclair to three years in jail but ordered she be released on parole on July 16, 2022.

Originally published as Kelly-Ann May Sinclair turned her life around while in jail, court told