Joanna Rotherick sentenced for having 20g meth stashed inside bra at Hurstville

A young woman’s nervous behaviour prompted police to search her before she ripped a bag of meth concealed inside her bra.

Joanne Rotherick pleaded guilty to possessing prohibited drugs, hindering police and having stolen goods and was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A mother has avoided going to jail after she was caught with a stash of ice inside her bra, a court has heard.

Joanne Rotherick, 28, pleaded guilty to drug possession, hindering police and having stolen goods and was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

Agreed facts tendered to court state police were conducting patrols at Hurstville when they saw a white Toyota Corolla parked opposite the Meridan Hotel on August 31 last year.

Rotherick, who lived at Roselands, was in the driver’s seat and acted “extremely nervous” and made no eye contact when police spoke to her.

Due to her behaviour, police suspected she had drugs and told her to leave the car because she would be searched.

Joanne Rotherick had drugs stashed inside bra Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Police asked Rotherick if she had anything on herself and she indicated that she did, and reached under shirt and into her bra.

Officers believed she was going to hand them an item but they heard something rip, which resulted in Rotherick having to be physically restrained.

She dropped some crystal substance over the footpath, with police later discovering a small resealable bag with more crystal substance inside her bra.

Officers also located two credit cards that did not belong to her inside her handbag before Rotherick was arrested.

Police weighed the bag and tested the substance, which totalling 20g of meth.

In court, Rotherick’s lawyer Sophie Toomey said her client had four months left to complete her full-time rehabilitation before she transitioned into a halfway house for three months.

She noted Rotherick’s criminal history was consistent with a drug user including having matters of dishonesty and being jailed for drug supply.

Ms Toomey said Rotherick had a supportive family, could live with her mother upon completing rehab, and hoped to regain employment after studying animal welfare.

Magistrate Philip Stewart took into account Rotherick’s positive steps towards rehabilitation and commended her progress, saying “well done to you”.

Mr Stewart indicated if she had not completed the rehabilitation then she would go to jail.

Rotherick was sentenced to an intensive correction order for eight months where she must abstain from drugs and continue drug rehabilitation.