Manly West mother blasted for permitting kids’ drug use at home

A bayside mother who admitted to police she let her kids smoke cannabis has been told prison may be in her future should she come back to court.

A 34-year-old mother who allowed her 15 and 16-year-old sons to smoke cannabis at home to keep them “safe” has been warned she faces a likely jail term should she return to court.

The Manly West woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a string of drug-related charges when she appeared before Wynnum Magistrates Court on Friday.

Principal among them was a charge of permitting use of place which carries a maximum 25-year prison sentence.

Her remaining charges included possessing dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, possessing a drug pipe and possessing anything suspected to have been used in the commission of a drug offence.

The court heard the mother on May 18 last year told police serving a warrant on her Manly West home that she permitted her sons to use cannabis at the residence.

Officers also found a drug pipe, drug utensils and a phone suspected to have been used in the supply of dangerous drugs.

It came on the back of a criminal history stretching from 2001 and littered with drug offending, stealing and a common assault in 2014.

A police prosecutor said should the defendant return to court, the prosecution would urge a prison sentence.

A Manly West mother faced court after letting her 15 and 16-year-old children smoke cannabis. PICTURE: FILE/AFP/ FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI

Defence solicitor Lyle Parker said his client’s family had suffered the loss of one of her sons which had caused deep trauma and led her remaining children to roam the streets.

Mr Parker further noted she had not offended since September last year and had taken proactive steps to turn the corner in her drug offending.

“She realises her circumstances and she is doing something to help her, so she is taking steps,” Mr Parker said.

“She has finished a Suboxone program and she is now seeing a general practitioner as well.

“So she is doing something about her life.”

The defendant explained she had done what she thought was best under trying circumstances.

“They would be gone for four or five days at a time and this had been going on for weeks,” the mother said.

“When they were at home I knew where they were and they were safe, not running around.”

Magistrate Zachary Sarra acknowledged her attempts to kerb her drug use but blasted her for her parenting.

“You are allowing this and condoning this drug-related criminal behaviour to flourish among two young boys who are at their most formative stages of their development,” Mr Sarra said.

“Do you know what drug-induced psychosis is?

“It can trigger chemicals in the brain where a door can be opened where you lapse into a drug-induced psychosis where you might be actively locked into some delusional state of paranoia, and then you can’t shut the door.

“There is very strong evidence of chronic cannabis abuse, youth depression and the next step is suicide.

“You have to empower these boys to make positive choices, not negative choices.”

The mother was sentenced to 18 months’ probation.

A criminal conviction was not recorded so that she could pursue employment.