Last chance for addict who survived horror childhood
A woman who survived a childhood scarred by sexual abuse and her mother’s suicide attempts has been given one last chance after facing drugs charges.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A southside woman who overcame a dreadful childhood has narrowly escaped prison after she lost her job and her life spiralled downward.
Emma-Kate Maree Campbell’s tragic tale was heard in the Supreme Court, where she was facing multiple drugs and property charges.
Barrister Kate Juhasz told the court her client had overcome an horrific childhood including alleged sexual abuse by her alcoholic father, starting at the age of five, and witnessing multiple suicide attempts by her mother who suffered from bipolar disorder.
Campbell, 45, herself developed bipolar disorder and had been seeing a leading Brisbane psychiatrist sporadically for the past 20 years.
Ms Juhasz said her client first fell into drug use at the age of 25, starting with LSD, and since then had used drugs including cannabis and methamphetamine, and also alcohol, to self-medicate.
Despite the huge problems life had thrown in front of her Campbell finished Year 12, had three TAFE diplomas and managed a therapeutic flotation centre in Paddington in Brisbane’s inner-west for six years.
But after losing her job in 2016 she struggled to find work and her life fell apart again.
“Her drug use spiralled out of control and, in that context, she has committed these offences,’’ Ms Janusz told the court.
She said Campbell had had only minor criminal convictions, apart from breaching probation in 2014, until police searched her car on September 1 last year and discovered oxycodone tablets and a number of clipseal bags containing methamphetamine.
A search of her home five days later unearthed more drugs, including 31g of cannabis, oxycodone (sometimes called hillbilly heroin), MDMA tablets and 11.47g of methamphetamine divided among 12 clipseal bags.
Police also found a tourniquet, which Campbell admitted she used when injecting methamphetamine, scales, a drug pipe and a laptop marked as the property of Upper Mt Gravatt State High School.
Campbell pleaded guilty to all charges and Ms Janusz said her client had co-operated with police and made full admissions.
Failed nurse posed as cosmetic therapist: see the list of drugs she injected into clients
Baggies in letterboxes: welcome to our highrise hell
She asked her client not face actual jail, as her psychiatrist deemed she would need a high level of care for her drug problems if incarcerated.
Justice Helen Bowskill, in sentencing, said she took into account Campbell’s guilty pleas to all charges and her troubled upbringing.
“You have had many obstacles, no doubt as a result of a traumatic childhood,’’ she said.
“Clearly (drug abuse) is a very big obstacle for you and the court is mindful of the challenge.
“But a person in your situation knows only too well the damage and destruction drugs can cause.
“However, I have formed the view prison will not serve the community. The preferable course is to give you a chance to turn this around.’’
Justice Bowskill said Campbell might not be able to rise to the challenge, but if so the community would be protected because Campbell would go to jail if she reoffended.
She imposed four prison sentences of two and a half years, six months, three months and six month, to be served concurrently, with immediate parole. She ordered convictions be recorded on all charges.
A relieved-looking Campbell walked out of the court soon after, flanked by two friends.