Farrah Mitchell, Kentlyn drug lab: Magistrate tells mother to control her drug addiction

Despite various powders and liquids in buckets or spilt on the floor, tubes, beakers and heating trays tipped upside down, a 40-year-old woman told police she didn’t know she was in a drug lab despite the grannyflat making her ‘throat sore and skin oily’.

A sophisticated drug lab was uncovered in a granny flat in Kentlyn last year

A magistrate has told a mother-of-three she will end up in prison if she doesn’t control her drug addiction after sentencing her to a conditional release order for being caught at a Kentlyn drug lab.

Farrah Mitchell, 40, was caught inside the clandestine drug laboratory during a police raid on August 13, while a 54-year-old man was allegedly in the process of manufacturing ice.

Farrah Mitchell, 40, was caught inside a clandestine drug laboratory during a police raid on August 13. Picture: NSW Police

Police entered the home to find Mitchell in the garage, where investigators located a “large clandestine drug laboratory consisting of various stainless steel reaction vessels, buckets of liquids, condenser tubes and various powders and chemicals”, according to court documents.

There was also an upside down heating tray and liquid spilt all over the floor and chair.

Police allege the tray contained liquid methylamphetamine, otherwise known as ice, that was in the process of being crystallised.

However, it was tipped over when police entered the premises.

Mitchell was arrested and taken to Campbelltown police station where she was charged with being found on, entering, or leaving a drug premises.

On the other side of the garage, divided by a gyprock wall, was a 31-year-old woman and a 11-month child. The pair were escorted from the scene.

While at Campbelltown Police Station, Mitchell said she was driven to the house at 3am to smoke ice in a garage and noticed trays, powders, liquids, vessels, a bath tub, and hoses.

She told police it smelt “strongly of chemicals like paint” and the room made her skin feel oily and throat sore, according to police facts.

Mitchell stayed in the garage with the 54-year-old from 3am to 9.20am smoking drugs and she told police she thought the garage may have been a drug lab, but she was not sure as she had never seen one before.

The granny flat was raided by police in August. Picture: NSW Police

The Warrick Farm woman pleaded guilty and faced Campbelltown Local Court on Monday where Magistrate Ian Guy sentenced her to the 18-month conditional release order.

Magistrate Guy acknowledged the 40-year-old had just been granted custody of her 19-year-old daughter, who has autism, during the sentencing.

“You irresistibly have had a problem with drugs,” the magistrate told Mitchell.

“Whether there will be a change or not, time will tell.”

Magistrate Guy told Mitchell she needs to make ‘significant changes’ in her life now that she has the responsibility of having a child in her custody.

“If not, you will end up in jail and you can imagine what will happen to the kid … wow, bad,” he said.

“Take seriously your responsibility to look after your child.”

“Do the right thing and do not get involved with drugs.”