Sonya Alameddine caught high on ‘date rape’ drug in Sydney’s CBD: court
A woman has been caught in a ‘terrible state’ while high on an illegal drug commonly known as a ‘date rape’ drug in Sydney’s CBD, a court has heard.
Inner West
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A woman has learned her fate over being found in a “terrible state” in Sydney’s CBD while high on a substance commonly known as a ‘date rape’ drug.
Sonya Alameddine, 36, pleaded guilty to possess a prohibited drug in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court and represented herself during her sentencing.
Reading from agreed facts tendered to court, Magistrate Miranda Moody said police found Alameddine in possession of 11g of gamma hydroxybutyric acid, commonly known as GHB, on August 11 last year.
“You were in quite the state when police found you,” Magistrate Moody said.
“You were standing on Elizabeth St at 8pm, swaying side to side when police stopped you and you attempted to walk away.”
The court heard Alameddine, with affected speech and glazed eyes, told an officer she had lipstick in her bag. Liquid then spilt from her bag, drenching her T-shirt.
Police recovered two vials of liquid later found to be GHB and arrested Alameddine.
GHB is a central nervous system depressant, which slows down brain activity and produces feelings of relaxation and drowsiness.
The drug is commonly known as a ‘date rape’ drug because it can easily be slipped into drinks unnoticed.
An unrepresented Alameddine told the court it was “an honest mistake” and she was struggling with depression.
Magistrate Moody convicted Alameddine of drug possession and sentenced her to 12-month conditional release order.
She ordered Alameddine to continue seeking mental health support, telling her she had “quite the serious drug problem”.
“You’ve had a number of drug possession matters,” Magistrate Moody said.
“You need to get help for your drug use. You were very vulnerable.”
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