Valerie Veronica Laurie faces Coffs Harbour Local Court pleading guilty to drug possession and supply charges
An addict facing a Coffs court, who tried to move a staggering amount of drugs, has been slammed for her dodgy dealings. Here’s how she’s been punished.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A drug addict was caught by Coffs Harbour police trying to hide thousands of dollars worth of MDMA tablets.
Valerie Veronica Laurie, 33, faced Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday.
She pleaded guilty to two counts of supply prohibited drug (more than indictable) and one count each of supply prohibited drug (less than indictable) and fail to appear in accordance with bail acknowledgment.
Laurie was pulled over while driving a hire car in Toomina in April 2020.
Police suspected Laurie had been couriering a large quantity of drugs, she underwent roadside tests and her phone was seized by officers as part of investigations, the court was told.
Laurie appeared “very keen” to get back home, according to agreed facts tendered in court.
Raids were carried out days later and police found a small resealable bag containing a crystallised substance in a candle tin.
Police also found pills stashed inside a fish tank
They seized 22.53 grams of MDMA as well as 1.08g of meth.
Laurie was not home during the raid because she had been arrested for other matters.
Police uncovered several Facebook messages discussing drug quantities and supply on Laurie’s phone.
Laurie wrote that the value of 298 tablets was more than $10,000.
Prosecutor Sergeant O’Connor questioned in court how Laurie obtained thousands of dollars worth of drugs.
Laurie said it was for personal use and to sell within the drug community.
Magistrate Pat McMahon said Laurie clearly had a drug problem.
Mr McMahon said anyone involved in drugs were “destructive” and she spoke about the large quantity Laurie was found with.
“Drugs such as MDMA are extremely dangerous and play a significant role in destroying our community,” he said.
Laurie’s lawyer, Tony Cox, said the MDMA was being sold by his client to support her addiction.
Laurie was unable to justify why she had such large quantities and Mr Cox agreed the facts appeared unclear.
“She was addicted and vulnerable. She didn’t recognise – or care – about the consequences of being caught due to her addiction,” he said.
The court heard Laurie had experienced domestic violence.
She began drinking at age 13 and became addicted to amphetamines before her offending.
Laurie expressed a desire to attend rehabilitation, obtain a job and get her life back on track.
Mr McMahon told the court Laurie’s engagement with the “destructive” drug community and her relationships were clear factors in offending.
He said he would not have hesitated to send Laurie to prison, had it not been for recent attempts to rehabilitate,
Laurie was sentenced to an eight month intensive corrections order and ordered to undertake 150 hours of community work.
‘Pain nine out of ten’: Processes examined in aged care death inquest
The ongoing coronial inquest into the 2020 death of a 63-year-old Mid-North Coast aged care resident has examined if systems and procedures were followed before a key witness aired her grief.
‘Hard to fathom’: Public speak up in hunt for Bowraville child killer
Homicide detectives are busy taking statements as they probe the suspected murder of three children from Bowraville in the 1990s, with a focus on finding the remains of 16-year-old Colleen Walker-Craig. Here’s the latest.