Wynnum mother defrauds jewellers of thousands while on runaway drug binge

An addicted mother has descended from having no criminal history to racking up scores of charges, thousands of dollars in fraud and “high-end” drug offending, a court has heard.

A young mother whose life spiralled out of control after a dramatic uptake of hard drugs and “insidious” company was released from jail today with a chance to start anew.

Appearing via video link from custody at the Cleveland Magistrates Court today Jenna-Lee Wood, 30, sobbed when she realised she would be released after a three-month stint behind bars.

The Wynnum woman pleaded guilty to more than a dozen charges, including being in possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis and drug utensils.

However, her “most serious” charges were for twice committing fraud at jewellery stores to the tune of thousands of dollars by using stolen identities, and illegally using rental vehicles, for which she was charged with unlawful use of vehicle and unlawful possession of vehicle.

With no criminal history before her precipitous downfall to drugs in 2019, Wood was warned by the court jail was the only option for her at the time of her arrest.

“Nothing was going to stop you,” Magistrate Deborah Vasta said.

“You were on a path towards destruction.”

Jenna-Lee Wood was on a path to destruction prior to her arrest, according to a magistrate. Generic images of an arrest. Picture: Supplied

The court heard the defendant used a stolen identity to secure $1,523 in finance at Prouds the Jewellers at Carindale on October 4 in 2019, and defrauded Prouds the Jewellers in Wynnum of $1418 the day after.

The court was told such fraud was particularly odious for the potential long-term damage it can wrought on victims’ credit scores.

But it was Wood’s illegal use of rental vehicles – while in company – to ostensibly avoid police radar while dealing drugs that prompted Magistrate Vasta to describe the offending as “red flags” for “high-end” drug dealing.

Wood rented a vehicle for such purposes from Brisbane Airport on June 5 in 2019 and again on August 19 from Andy’s Auto Rentals in Victoria Point.

Defence solicitor Jon Ide said his client had no criminal record prior to her 2019 downfall to drugs and was the mother of a nine-year-old.

Mr Ide said Wood’s drug offending was laid bare when police accessed her mobile phone, which ultimately led to her pleading guilty at the Supreme Court to 18 counts of drug supply.

The court heard Wood’s spiral was so all consuming she did not complete a single hour of community service she was ordered to do.

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Benefiting from a “bubble of clarity” after drying out the woman was encouraged to invest in her relationship as a mother and avoid “insidious” company bereft of “any morals”.

Wood was fined $300 and sentenced to three months’ prison with immediate parole.