Mums with meth face court across southeast Queensland for wild or bizarre crimes
Meth is rife across all walks of society as we look at the 17 southeast Queensland mums who landed in court due to the drug. SEE THE LIST
Logan
Don't miss out on the headlines from Logan. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Spitting in the face of a government officer, holding up a servo or ramming into a cop car – these were just some of the shocking crimes committed by mums with meth across southeast Queensland.
Methamphetamine is one of the biggest contributors to criminal behaviour and is highly prevalent across all southeast Queensland courts.
The Queensland Hospital and Health Service reported 418 emergency presentations due to meth in the financial year of 2021/2022.
Meth use is also seen in many mothers across the state and leads to shocking and outrageous offending.
Queensland Magistrate Cameron Press in 2018 said penalties for first time drug offenders were not harsh enough and contributed to an increase in dangerous drug use.
“I think that attitude has led this country to being one of the greatest drug-using countries in the world," he said.
“Meth is a dangerous drug and I don’t think it sends a message to the public that courts take it seriously by giving people fines.
“It‘s a huge problem in society, it’s destroying people and families. The worst thing that can happen to people is to become an addict of methamphetamine.”
Here we take a look at 20 mums who faced southeast Queensland courts for meth and other criminal charges in 2022.
NOTE: Convictions were recorded for all defendants
ROSEMAREE-LEE IVES
A drug dealing mother, who police linked to a wholesale seller, faced court after she was caught selling a cocktail of drugs, which included crystal meth, opioids, oxycodone, and cannabis.
Ives pleaded guilty to 25 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, one count of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime, and was sentenced to an 18 month jail term with immediate parole.
The court heard the mother-of-six smoked and injected 1 ½ points of meth daily at the height of her addiction.
SKYE ASHLEY CHORLEY
A pregnant Logan mother pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court to eight counts of supplying dangerous drugs, four counts of stealing and one charge of driving with a relevant drug present after being targeted by police and raided during a major drug investigation.
During the search, police found messages showing she offered to facilitate the supply of 1.7g of methamphetamine
Chorley’s lawyer said his client had been using meth “quite heavily” during the period the supply charges occurred.
Chorley was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and disqualified from driving for nine months.
EMERY JOHNSTONE
A pregnant Beenleigh woman who robbed a Loganholme servo with a pair of scissors for a soft drink and pack of cigarettes, said her meth use was to blame.
The court heard that on March 28, 2021 Johnstone entered a Freedom Fuels petrol station in Loganholme at midday, grabbed two drinks out of the fridge and said “I’m taking these, this is a robbery”.
Judge Craig Chowdhury sentenced Johnstone to a suspended two and a half year prison sentence and said she needed to focus on her sobriety.
“Meth is well known to cause psychosis in people and you’re pregnant so it is even more important you stay healthy,” he said.
SHARON MAREE THOMAS
A 55-year-old Ipswich mother with an extensive drug rap sheet broke down in tears in court after she was sentenced to jail for dealing methamphetamine.
The court heard Sharon Maree Thomas had 54 prior drug convictions and was buying between 1.75 and 3.5g of meth a day to fund her addiction.
Thomas pleaded guilty to nine counts of supplying a drug and was sentenced to 18 months jail.
TANIKA MAREE CLARKE
A drug trafficking mum-of-two has landed in court again after threatening to shoot her old roommate in Yarrabilba.
The court heard Tanika Maree Clarke was asked to move out of a home in Yarrabilba after failing to pay her rent on June 23 last year.
Three days later, she returned to the address and said “I should f***ing shoot you. You made me uplift my life”.
She was sentenced in Beenleigh District Court to 12 months imprisonment with an immediate parole eligibility date.
Previously Clarke was convicted for drug trafficking in Brisbane Supreme Court in August 2019 after being found with 1.98 grams of meth, 22 capsules of MDMA, $4000 cash and a tick sheet in a rental car and bragged of having over 200 customers.
JESSICA SKYE CHRISTENSEN
A young Logan mum has faced court at 27 weeks pregnant, accused of a dangerous evening drive along the Warrego Highway, where she swerved between lanes at 20 km/h with a “cocktail of drugs” in her system.
The court heard Christensen was spotted by an off-duty paramedic “swerving all over the road” and when tested, police found fantasy, methamphetamine, antidepressants, cocaine and diazepam in her blood.
Christensen was sentenced to two years of probation, convictions were recorded and she was disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.
MICHELLE SANDRA TANSON
A 37-year-old mother, who was busted with meth at work when cops found a semiautomatic rifle and 30 rounds of ammo “tucked behind” her rear seat, has been described as a “disaster waiting to happen”.
Flagstone mum-of-one Michelle Sandra Tanson pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a category D weapon, three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing drug utensils and unlawful possession of explosives.
Tanson was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and a conviction was recorded.
ERICA ANN SILVESTER
Repeatedly ramming police with a stolen vehicle was not the worst thing a meth-affected mother did while on a months’ long barrage.
Inala mother-of-four Erica Ann Silvester pleaded guilty to 39 charges at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on January 6, 2022, including dangerous operation of a vehicle, evading police, unlawful use of a vehicle and entering a dwelling.
The court heard that on November 9, 2020 police approached Silvester and she locked herself in a stolen car and rammed a police car before driving at a young mother with two small children and crashing into concrete blocks.
She then rammed a police vehicle a second time before officers managed to smash her window to arrest her.
Silvester was sentenced to 22 months prison and granted immediate parole release.
ISABELLE MARLOR
A 23-year-old mum-of-two caught in stolen cars on three occasions In one day, while committing a string of frauds has been blasted by a magistrate.
The court heard Isabelle Marlor was on parole for a robbery offence from 2018 and used a stolen white RAV4 to get to a Minden property from where a Toyota LandCruiser and a debit card were stolen.
Marlor got involved in intravenous hard drug abuse from a young age and told Beenleigh Magistrates Court she had a lot of growing up to do.
Having served 76 days in pre-sentence custody Marlor was sentenced to seven months’ jail and granted an immediate parole.
GEMMA ROSE BARNES
A young meth abusing mum-of-two, who grabbed a woman by the throat before punching her also almost bashed a grandmother, a court has heard.
Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard that on December 13, 2020, Gemma Rose Barnes illegally entered a Waterford West property, grabbed a woman by the throat and punched her in the stomach.
Barnes’ defence said she had abused meth from a young age.
She was sentenced to five months’ prison to be wholly suspended over 12 months after pleading guilty to common assault, stealing and public nuisance.
LILAINIA LEE HUGHES
An Ipswich magistrate has encouraged a 43-year-old mum of seven to “get on top of her drug addiction” after she was found driving with meth in her saliva on a provisional licence.
The court heard Lilainia Lee Hughes was caught driving with meth in her system on September 22, 2020 and was found in possession of the drug, as well as cannabis.
She was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, disqualified from obtaining or holding a licence for a total of 11 months, and fined a total of $800.
ALINTA MAY SUEY
Meth-addict mum of three who said she “had a lot going on” when she failed to appear in accordance with parole requirements narrowly avoided jail time.
Alinta May Suey, 37, pleaded guilty to 14 charges including wilful damage, stealing and entering premises.
The court heard Suey’s five-year-addiction to methamphetamine had contributed to many of her offences and she was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended, with an immediate parole release date.
RHEANNON MARIE ROWE
A drug-addicted Moreton mum has faced court for drugs and other charges despite claiming to have gone “clean” for the sake of her children.
Rheannon Marie Rowe, 28, pleaded guilty in Pine Rivers Magistrate Court to possession of dangerous drugs and drug utensils and drug driving.
Rowe claimed she had been clean since December but had “second-hand smoked’’ ice while visiting friends just before she was pulled over.
She was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and received a $700 fine.
REBECCA SHARNE HYNDMAN
A new grandmother has had to celebrate the birth of her first grandchild from behind bars after she was jailed for committing crimes to feed her and her partner’s drug addiction.
Rebecca Sharne Hyndman pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court to 10 charges, including possession of dangerous drugs, shoplifting and failing to appear in court several times.
From September, 2021 to March 30, 2022, the 41-year-old stole $400-worth of Woolworths items and was found in possession of methamphetamine.
She received a six month suspended prison sentence.
LILLIAN JARVIS
A Cleveland woman, who was hoisted two metres into the air by a forklift when she was caught trying to hot-wire a car, has fronted court after the wild incident which was caught on film.
Lillian Dawn Jarvis, 24, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on November 17 to two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and enter dwelling.
The defence said Jarvis had a serious criminal history and she was battling with an addiction to methamphetamine.
Jarvis received a 12 month prison sentence with an immediate parole release date.
LATEISHA MEREE MAYNE
A once successful high school student has been jailed after facing a list of 12 charges.
Woodridge resident, Lateisha Meree Mayne, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on July 5, 2022 to trespassing, stealing, improperly disposing of syringe needles and possessing stolen property.
Mayne’s lawyer said she started using meth after finishing high school.
She received a 14 month suspended prison sentence.
TEAGEN MARIE STURROCK
A Rochedale South mother with a history of meth use punched and spat on a government officer.
Former retail and hospitality worker Teagen Marie Sturrock, 26, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 9, 2022 to three counts of serious assault of a public officer, possession of dangerous drugs and unauthorised dealing with shop goods.
On May 31, 2021, Sturrock punched a female public officer in the nose and mouth with her right fist, causing the victim’s mouth to swell and spat in the left eye of another officer.
She was sentenced to nine months in prison with an immediate parole release date and was fined $1500.
Brisbane could become computing, quantum physics capital of the world
Buried in Queensland’s latest financial report is a $1 billion gamble: a world-first quantum computer that could transform Brisbane — and global science.
Candidate’s sign near war memorial triggers outrage
An election campaign sign metres from a war memorial used at Anzac Day services has sparked community outrage, with veterans calling it deeply disrespectful. Should it be allowed? VOTE NOW