Whitney Denham, Zo Denham sold cocaine to get rid of $20k debt

This broke husband and wife were told to file for bankruptcy to overcome their financial strife but instead they fatefully took a mate up on an illicit offer.

A couple who took to selling cocaine in a desperate bid to free themselves of thousands of dollars of debt breathed a sigh of relief and thanked a judge for not sending them to prison.

Whitney and Zo Denham faced Campbelltown District Court on Thursday after admitting to running a lucrative coke business for several months.

Zo and Whitney Denham have avoided prison. Picture: Facebook

The couple had been making thousands of dollars a week by selling the drug to people between Campbelltown and Liverpool who would text them a location to meet up and make a deal.

Judge Andrew Colefax told the court Mr Denham was the “main driving force of the operation” but said Ms Denham “was not an unenthusiastic assistant”.

“Whilst Mr Denham dealt directly with the supplier, took most of the orders and solely attended some transactions, Ms Denham accompanied to transactions and made some on her own,” he told the court.

The couple had more than $20,000 in debt they desperately wanted to get rid of and previously told the court they tried everything before turning to crime.

The couple had been dealing cocaine for months. Picture: Facebook

Mr Denham, 34, had been working full-time but child support payments and other debts from before his marriage continued to build up.

The couple sought out financial aid but were told their finances were so bad their best option was to file for bankruptcy.

Knowing of the couple’s money troubles, a friend of Mr Denham offered to help him out by supplying him cocaine to sell, but he declined the offer at first before finally succumbing to the deal.

“I’m satisfied beyond reasonable doubt their sole purpose in the arrangement was for financial gain,” Judge Colefax said.

Both the husband and wife admitted remorse to the court about their actions.

At a previous appearance, 33-year-old Ms Denham broke down in the witness stand and said being in prison had been an “eye-opener”.

“I could’ve caused half the problems in prison just because I sold to people,” she said through tears.

“I can see the mistakes that I have made and what I have done wrong.”

The couple’s elaborate scheme began to come undone when Mr Denham first engaged with an undercover police officer in November 2019 via text message, according to court documents.

Judge Colefax told the court Mr and Ms Denham received a total of $58,510 for the sale of cocaine and he estimated they made a profit of $12-15,000.

The total amount of cocaine they sold was 161.23g or 5.75 ounces, he said.

The couple breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

Judge Colefax said both the husband and wife had low chances of reoffending.

“I’m satisfied for community safety that the sentence can be served in the community,” Judge Colefax said.

For the two charges of supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, Mr Denham was sentenced to three years in prison to be served by way of intensive corrections order.

Mrs Denham was sentenced, for the same two offences, to 11 months in prison to be served by way of intensive corrections order.

The order allows the couple to serve in the community with Mr Denham ordered to complete 750 hours of community service and both are to abstain from illicit drugs.

Both Mr and Mrs Denham breathed a sigh of relief and profusely thanked the judge for allowing them to avoid prison.