Sharria Thompson sentenced for Wellington drug syndicate role

A mother-of-three who helped keep the wheels of a notorious regional NSW drug syndicate spinning has blamed her brother and partner for the criminal enterprise.

A mother of three who became an ice dealer blamed her boyfriend and brother for her involvement in a major regional NSW drug syndicate, a court has heard.

Sharria Termecia Thompson pleaded guilty to supplying 79.85 grams of ice, participating in a criminal group and organising a drug premises.

Wellington woman Sharria Termecia Thompson has been sentenced in court. Picture: Facebook/Sharria Thompson

The Wellington woman was one of more than a dozen people arrested after an extensive 14-month police investigation, known as Strike Force Pinnacle, started to conclude in May 2020.

According to court documents Thompson helped keep the drug syndicate, headed by her brother Kyle, running by performing numerous roles.

In secret recordings, police overhead Thompson selling ice to her brother Bradley and numerous other customers.

She let another member of the syndicate know about the location of drugs in her bedroom and on one occasion she asked a man to supply a “big one” to an unknown person for “4” which was a coded reference to an ounce of ice for $4000.

While she was peddling drugs, Thompson was unemployed and living on Centrelink.

Kyle Anthony Thompson has pleaded guilty to a string of charges including directing the activities of a criminal group. Picture: Facebook

In court documents, it was stated by authorities that the amount of money Thompson was pushing through poker machines at the time of her offending was “inconsistent with legitimate income earnt from welfare payments”.

After her arrest, Thompson was remanded in custody for more than five months and during that time her parents, Lyn Helen Thompson and Alan Leslie Fletcher, died in Wellington on November 8.

Police said Mrs Thompson, 59, was found inside a car that had been set on fire and Mr Fletcher, 59, was found unresponsive nearby in the backyard of the family’s home.

Sharria Thompson’s partner Kenneth Everson was convicted and jailed for his role in the syndicate. Picture: Facebook/Sharria Thompson

He died shortly after at Dubbo Base Hospital while Mrs Thompson later succumbed to her injuries in a Sydney hospital. Both had been charged over their alleged involvement in the drug syndicate.

Shortly before her mother’s death, Thompson was granted bail.

In Dubbo Local Court on Thursday, defence barrister Paul Coady tendered written submissions to the court and spoke only briefly during Thompson’s sentencing, about the “sensitivity” Thompson felt following the deaths of her parents.

Prosecutor Adam Barnes said all except one Strike Force Pinnacle offender, who had been sentenced in the Local Court, had been jailed.

He said based on parity, there were “more than sufficient grounds” for the court to grant Thompson a community-based prison sentence.

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton said there was no evidence before her to suggest Thompson was “at the top of the hierarchy” when it came to the syndicate’s operation.

Thompson said she became involved in the syndicate because of her partner and brother, Magistrate Hamilton told the court.

“She has no prior convictions,” Magistrate Hamilton said.

“It seems to be accepted that the defendant has certainly suffered some extra-curial punishment and she has also spent five months and 16 days in custody.”

Thompson was sentenced to an 18-month term of imprisonment to be serviced in the community in the form of an intensive corrections order.

She was also ordered to undertake 150 hours of community service work.

Dubbo Local Court magistrate Theresa Hamilton ordered Sharria Thompson to undertake community service work. Picture: Ryan Young

The deaths of Mr Fletcher and Mrs Thompson remain the focus of an ongoing police investigation on behalf of the Coroner. There has been no suggestion any other person was responsible for their deaths.

In September, Brad Thompson received convictions for participating in a criminal group, drug supply and possessing a shortened firearm. He was jailed for three years and eight months and becomes eligible for parole in April 2022.

Kenneth Everson, the partner of Sharria Thompson, also received convictions in September for drug supply and participating in a criminal group. He was jailed for 40 months and becomes eligible for parole on Friday.

In early November Kyle Thompson pleaded guilty to knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, supplying a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, corruption and possessing prohibited firearms. His case remains before the courts.