North Queensland mums who have fronted court
These are the latest North Queensland mums to face court for their bad behaviour. SEE WHO MADE THE LIST>>>
Townsville
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This mother’s commercial meth trade was brought down when the 29-year-old became subject to a major police operation.
Rae Lee Rose Vaughan pleaded guilty to four charges in the Townsville Supreme Court after her house was raided by police.
She was sentenced to four years imprisonment for drug trafficking and a further six months for drug supply.
MUM-OF-TWO’S “INCREASING” DRUG USE FUELLED NINE-MONTH CRIME SPREE
A mother-of-two’s “increasing” drug use fuelled a nine-month crime spree that stretched across the state, landing her a prison sentence after serving more than three months in custody.
Cassandra Donna Maree Lawton, 29, pleaded guilty to 17 offences in the Townsville Magistrates Court on April 19, after she was busted by police hiding under her bed in January.
Lawton was handed an 11 month prison sentence and was released on parole after serving 104 days pre-sentence custody.
NURSE JAILED AFTER SPIRALLING INTO LIFE OF DRUG USE AND CRIME
A mum-of-three was jailed after she was in the company of two men she had only just met when a number of premises including a cafe and post office were broken into and entered by the men in the early hours of the morning on December 27 last year.
Alissa Maree O’Neill, 34, pleaded guilty to 14 charges in the Townsville Magistrates Court.
The “fully qualified” Registered Nurse’s life spiralled out of control when her seven-year marriage came to an end, causing her to heavily use drugs for relief.
MUM-TO-BE BUSTED IN DRUG STING
A Townsville mum-to-be had her “sophisticated” drug set-up busted by police.
Chantelle Louise Keasey, 30, pleaded guilty to five charges in the Townsville Magistrates Court after police raided her house on June 4 and located nine cannabis plants varying in height.
Magistrate Scott Luxton said it was concerning she was using cannabis while pregnant and sentenced her to six months probation with no conviction recorded.
BOND CLEANERS METH HABIT LANDS HER IN COURT
A Townsville bond cleaner fronted court after police found meth and other drug paraphernalia when they searched her car in April.
Gemma Lee Roughsedge, 28, pleaded guilty to four charges in the Townsville Magistrates Court on April 27, which included possessing dangerous drugs, possessing utensils or pipes, possessing anything used in the commission of crime and contravening a direction of police.
The mother-of-one was fined Roughsedge $200 for the drug offences and $100 for contravening police.
METH MUM DOES A RUNNER AFTER KMART THEFT ATTEMPT
A Townsville mother-of-three’s harebrained scheme to rip off Kmart backfired big time.
The Townsville Magistrates Court heard Sarah Jane Grainger only scanned seven items (worth $31) at the Kmart, Idalia checkout out of the 66 items (worth $555.30) sitting in her trolley.
When the eagle-eyed docket checker noticed a significant number of unpaid items not included on the docket, they called security and Grainger fled on foot, leaving her trolley behind.
She pleaded guilty to one count of stealing after a previous conviction.
After initially intending to sentence Grainger to a suspended term of imprisonment, Magistrate Cathy Wadley was convinced that a community-based order was the best option allowing her to get help for substance abuse.
Grainger was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, with a conviction recorded.
TOWNSVILLE MUM JAILED FOR RIPPING OFF CENTRELINK
Justice caught up to a Townsville mum-of-five who ripped off Centrelink for five years, falsely receiving $103,000 in payments.
A court has heard how social worker Bianca Mary Oyston, 45, made false declarations to Centrelink claiming she had received nil income between July 2014 and May 2019.
Hunched over and tearful, Oyston pleaded guilty in the Townsville District Court to one count of obtain financial advantage by deception and one count of obtaining financial advantage for self.
Judge Deborah Richards described Oyston’s behaviour as “persistent, brazen and while completely ignoring court orders”, which was aggravated by misleading the court in 2016.
She sentenced Oyston to three years imprisonment, to be released after serving 12 months behind bars and to pay $103,075 in reparations to Centrelink.
DRUG DEALING MUM-OF-TWO HAD $1K CASH IN HER PANTS
When a Townsville mum was searched by police, they found almost $1000 cash in her pockets.
Celine Charles, 24, told cops she won the money on the pokies, however she later confessed to dealing illicit drugs.
She fronted the Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday, April 12, and pleaded guilty to 23 charges.
MUM SMASHES RELATIVES CAR AFTER HE IMPREGNATED UNDERAGE DAUGHTER
A Townsville mother-of-four smashed her relatives car with a baseball bat after she found out he had got her underage daughter pregnant.
Renay Lara Nai pleaded guilty to one charge of wilful damage in the Townsville Magistrates Court on April 1 after she used a baseball bat to smash all the windows on the man’s Holden Barina on May 15, 2019.
The court heard Nai was undergoing surgery when her “extended relative”, identified as the victim, commenced a relationship with her underage daughter who subsequently fell pregnant.
Magistrate Steven Mosch said he understood why Nai would be angry and what motivated her actions but said “two wrongs don’t make a right”.
Magistrate Mosch accepted the incident was out of character and fined Nai $500, referred to SPER.
A conviction was not recorded.
MUM THREATENED SHOPPERS WITH JIM BEAM BOTTLE
A mother-of-two was handed a prison sentence after she threatened to assault shoppers at Vincent Shopping Centre in April with a Jim Beam bourbon bottle.
Prosecutor Cody Rowe said when police arrived at the scene Hopkins was sitting on the floor at the entrance of the shopping centre yelling “f--k you dog c--ts”.
Security removed the empty bottle from Hopkins’s hands to prevent her harming anyone with it, Mr Rowe said.
Magistrate Scott Luxton said probation was not an appropriate form of punishment for the offence as Hopkins continued to offend.
He ordered a sentence of one month imprisonment, wholly suspended for six months.
A conviction was recorded.
Originally published as North Queensland mums who have fronted court
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