Candace Skinner: Paramedic in court on drugs, escape charges

A Brisbane woman will remain behind bars after being sentenced in Logan for 10 offences including a daring escape from prison.

A former paramedic’s swift fall from grace after becoming addicted to methamphetamine has been detailed in a Logan court, as she pleaded guilty to 10 offences, mostly drug-related but also including a stolen car and daring escape from custody.

Heathwood woman Candace Elyce Skinner, 26, was sentenced in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday to 12 months’ imprisonment wholly suspended so as not to interfere with another jail sentence Skinner is serving.

Heathwood woman Candace Elyce Skinner, 26. Picture: Facebook

Barring a fuel drive-off at Beenleigh in July 2017, Skinner’s offending occurred in the period between March and December last year, while she was on parole.

The offending started on March 13 with a charge of contravening a direction from police.

On May 19, Skinner was busted with a knife and glass pipe on Browns Plains Rd at Marsden.

On June 27, she was busted drug driving on Wadeville St, Heathwood, resulting in her also being charged with possessing ammunition and another glass pipe.

Shortly after, on July 15, she was discovered in possession of a small clipseal bag and scoop for administering a drug.

Skinner was taken into custody on August 11 after stealing a car from Keyes St, Loganlea, before making a daring escape from low-security Numinbah Correctional Centre on December 13, leading to a charge of escape by person lawfully in custody.

Defence lawyer Katherine Hanson told the court her client was a former paramedic with four children, who also volunteered with The Benevolent Society.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said they had no record of Skinner working for QAS, nor was she registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Ms Hanson declined to comment further about her client’s former employment.

Skinner received her qualifications at Burleigh Heads’ Australian Paramedical College, according to her Facebook page.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Skinner was disqualified from driving for one month.

It was not heard in open court when she is due for release from custody.

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