Alleged meth mum busted in unlucky servo police encounter

A mother accused of trafficking meth across Brisbane’s north allegedly gave police a false name and claimed not to have consumed drugs when they approached her at a petrol station.

Skye Marie Paton. Pic: Facebook

A mother accused of trafficking meth across Brisbane’s north was detained during an unlucky encounter with police at a gas station, a court has heard.

Skye Marie Paton, 34, allegedly gave police a false name and claimed not to have consumed any drugs in the last month when they approached her at the Nundah Ampol on August 25.

Brisbane Magistrates Court heard at Paton’s committal hearing on Thursday how Paton allegedly tested positive to methamphetamine shortly after and was found to have multiple warrants out for her arrest.

Skye Marie Paton. Pic: Facebook

Paton is currently remanded in custody facing charges including trafficking methamphetamine and 19 counts of supplying dangerous drugs from June to August last year.

She appeared in person at her committal hearing on Thursday, wearing a striking leopard print button up and jeans in court.

Senior Constable Anthony Pearcy told the court how when he detained Paton last August, she “seemed talkative and a bit down, kind of saying she always gets arrested and other people are getting away with stuff”.

Snr Cst Pearcy said he and his partner Constable Les Chin had been at the gas station for unrelated reasons when they saw Paton emerge from a Toyota Corolla.

He said when he asked Paton for her licence, she told him she had left it at home and that her name was Tracey Butcher.

Snr Cst Pearcy said he later learned that she had been on parole for drug related offences and had multiple warrants out for her arrest.

The court heard Paton had also only been on her learner’s licence at the time - despite allegedly driving that day with two unrelated juvenile passengers.

Snr Cst Pearcy said Paton had eventually admitted her real name and that she had a “bag of gear” in her handbag - which, he explained to the court, meant a small quantity of methamphetamine for her personal use.

Footage played to the court of Snr Cst Pearcy speaking with Paton back at the station that night showed Paton telling him she was a “recreational user” of drugs and not addicted.

Paton’s defence barrister Carl Tessman asked both Snr Cst Pearcy and Cst Chin a number of questions about their recollection of their interactions with Paton.

He then indicated that the matter should be committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

Paton responded a simple “no your honour” when asked if she wanted to say anything in answer to her charges at this stage and no pleas were made.

She made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to face trial at Brisbane’s Supreme Court at a date to be set.

In addition to the drug trafficking and supply offences, Paton is charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs, obstructing police, driving with a relevant drug in her system while on a learner’s licence, and possessing a mobile phone used in the commission of a crime (supplying dangerous drugs).