Shauna King: Nowra woman’s attempted drug delivery to prison inmate foiled by police

A convicted drug supplier and jewellery thief’s plan to deliver a drug stuffed balloon into a NSW south coast prison has been foiled, a court has heard.

Shauna Knight brought drugs into a prison.

A convicted drug supplier and jewellery thief attempted to smuggle a drug-stuffed balloon into a south coast prison.

Court facts describe how Shauna King, 36, hid a balloon containing a buprenorphine strip inside her mouth in a bid to deliver it to an inmate at the South Coast Correctional Centre on the afternoon of July 28.

Correctional officers took King aside after she arrived at detention centre after suspecting she was in possession of drugs.

King opened her mouth at the request of the officers before admitting her intention to deliver the balloon to an inmate.

She was detained by the officers, who contacted police, before she was charged and issued a court attendance notice.

King pleaded guilty to attempt to bring prohibited drug into a place of detention and possess prohibited drug in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday

The fresh charges come after the Nowra woman was convicted for a charge of larceny – which she pleaded guilty to in March – after stealing more than $700 worth of jewellery, clothing, handbags and perfume from various Shoalhaven stores.

Shauna King was sentenced in the Nowra Local Court.

The court heard about King’s previous conviction for the jewellery and clothing theft, as well as a separate conviction, community correction order and $500 fine in 2020 for supplying drugs around Nowra.

Shauna King leaving Nowra Local Court.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said her criminal record was not one to be proud of.

However, King’s lawyer Stephanie Mulholland, said her client was dealing with stressful circumstances in her life at the time of the various offences, resulting in “out of character” decision making.

She also submitted her client suffered from mental issues and sometimes struggled to understand right from wrong.

Despite these submissions, Ms Beattie said bringing drugs into a detention centre was “extremely serious” and noted King’s attempt took some planning.

Ms Beattie also noted King’s “significant” history with drugs, warning she needed to change her ways.

King was convicted, sentenced to a 16 month supervised community correction order, fined $500 and ordered to complete drug and alcohol treatment.

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