Nadia Joy Brightfield sentenced in Townsville District Court on drug possession charges

A Townsville woman’s offences were labelled ‘tragic’ in court after police found the mother in possession of more than 100 strips of Suboxone, a drug commonly sold to prisoners in correctional facilities.

Nadia Joy Brightfield sentenced in Townsville District Court on drug possession charges. Picture: Facebook

A mother of two was sentenced with her teen children sitting at the back of the courtroom, as the details of her drug stash which included more than 100 strips of a drug sold to prisoners, were revealed.

Nadia Joy Brightfield appeared in Townsville District Court recently after police executed a search warrant on the woman’s home and uncovered a string of drugs and a homemade weapon.

While the woman was found in possession of drugs, there was no suggestion she had attempted to supply the drug to prisoners in a correctional facility.

Crown prosecutor Patrick Newman told the court on December 14 in 2022 police found one gram of marijuana, a homemade taser, two lots of five gram tablets of diazepam and a syringe containing a small amount of methamphetamine.

Mr Newman said hidden in the 39-year-old woman’s cupboard was 104 strips of Suboxone, and additionally police found a notebook with names and monetary amounts like a tick sheet.

The court was told Brightfield admitted to owning all of the drugs except for the strips of Suboxone, which is commonly sold to prisoners in correctional facilities.

Mr Newman noted there was a clear element of commerciality due to the tick sheet and mobile phone found in the woman’s house.

It was not suggested that the woman tried to sell the drugs to inmates in prison.

Defence barrister Harvey Walters instructed by Rennick Lawyers said his New Zealand-born client started to use methamphetamine following her divorce seven years ago, and he highlighted that aside from the Suboxone she was only found with small quantities of drugs.

The court was told the woman had four previous convictions for possessing drugs.

Judge John Coker emphasised the concern surrounding the commerciality element and berated the woman for standing in a court before her children.

“I note your early plea of guilty, which is hopefully an indication of remorse and insight on your part into the gross stupidity that now brings you before the court,” he said.

“Standing in the dock of the superior courts with your two daughters sitting behind you is I hope a wake-up call for you.”

Brightfield pleaded guilty to possessing drugs, possessing things in relation to drugs and possessing a weapon.

She was sentenced to 12 months’ jail and released on immediate parole.

“It is indeed tragic that your children are sitting at the back of the court as you face these charges,” Judge Coker concluded.

Originally published as Nadia Joy Brightfield sentenced in Townsville District Court on drug possession charges