Sherenne Jade Armstrong, 43, of Slacks Creek sentenced to 14 months’ suspended jail

A Logan-based owner of three local businesses has had her “significant” criminal and traffic history aired in court after she was busted with meth along with a list of other offences.

A business owner who drove while court disqualified on seven occasions has more than a year of prison hanging over her head should she reoffend in the next 2.5 years a court has heard.

Appearing at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Sherenne Jade Armstrong of Slacks Creek pleaded guilty to 10 offences.

They included driving while court disqualified, driving with a relevant drug present in her system, driving while over the general but under the middle alcohol limit, failing to dispose of a needle and possessing dangerous drugs, among others.

The court heard Armstrong was on January 20, 2020 intercepted by police.

She was court disqualified from driving at the time and tests would confirm she had an illicit drug in her system.

On May 4, 2020 she was again intercepted driving while court disqualified, making for her seventh such offence, the court was told.

Armstrong was also over the general alcohol limit but under the middle at the time, had a “small quantity” of meth and a drug utensil in her possession and was driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

Sherenne Jade Armstrong, 43, of Slacks Creek pleaded guilty to 10 offences. Picture: Marcel Baum.

It came on the back of what the court heard was a “significant criminal and traffic history”.

According to police prosecutor Sergeant Donna Kay, the defendant was on March 3 sentenced at the supreme court to 18 months’ prison wholly suspended for three years for serious drug offences.

Defence solicitor Bruce Johnstone said his client had a serious meth addiction for “many, many years” but had done a “remarkable job” setting up her businesses and had been doing “fantastic” on probation.

Armstrong with defence solicitor Bruce Johnstone outside court. Picture: Marcel Baum.

The court heard Armstrong had since qualified for the NDIS, had completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program, and had taken “significant steps in her rehabilitation”.

The defendant was sentenced to 14 months’ prison to be wholly suspended for 2.5 years.

Already disqualified from driving for four years, Armstrong was disqualified from driving for another four years and nine months.

She was further sentenced to 12 months’ probation with convictions recorded.