Amelia Elizabeth Scott: former teacher sentenced over drug charges

A former teacher sentenced for drug charges saw a “significant change in her lifestyle” after moving to the Gold Coast, a court has heard. Read the full sentencing.

Amelia Elizabeth Scott, 33, was sentenced at Southport Magistrates Court over drug related offences. Picture: LinkedIn

A former teacher has walked out of court scot-free after admitting to possessing cocaine and using a phone to buy drugs.

Amelia Elizabeth Scott, 33, pleaded guilty to drug possession and possessing a phone used in the commission of a crime at the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that a surveillance device captured the former Catholic girls school teacher entering an address at Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach and snorting a plate with white powder on the evening of May 7, 2024. Due to conversations heard and observations made, police investigators believed the powder was cocaine.

Police executed a search warrant at the home of Scott and her partner at Clear Island Waters on August 2, 2024, where her mobile phone was seized.

The court heard an examination of Scott’s phone revealed several “situations” where she had asked for drugs and on July 23, 2024 had arranged for one gram of cocaine to be delivered to her.

The court also heard that police found photos of a bag of white powder on the phone and banking screenshots from Scott to show she had made payment for the drugs.

Amelia Elizabeth Scott (right), 33, leaves Southport Magistrates Court with her lawyer Jonathan Nyst. Picture: Emily Walker

Scott’s defence lawyer Jonathan Nyst told the court Scott had numerous academic achievements to her name which included receiving an academic excellence award each year at Griffith University and being part of the university’s Golden Key International Honours Society.

Mr Nyst said that Scott had left her eight year teaching career behind to move to the Gold Coast and work as a practice manager for her partner’s cardiology practice.

“It was that move that signalled a significant change in her lifestyle,” he said.

He said that Scott had managed her issues with depression, anxiety and OCD through her employment but found her new role was far less rewarding and became immersed in a new friendship group on the Gold Coast who had a different attitude to drugs. He said these circumstances led her to using cocaine recreationally.

Mr Nyst said that his client has been five months clean of drugs and alcohol and was genuinely remorseful.

“These charges have been a very stressful and sobering experience for her,” he said.

The court heard that Scott had been sentenced for a drug possession charge in the Southport Magistrates Court on July 25, 2024. She had been placed on a recognisance bond and no conviction was recorded.

Magistrate Kerry Magee said that Scott was a hardworking woman with a promising future that could be derailed if she lapsed into drug use.

“I can only hope that having been charged with these offences and the previous offence (it) is the wakeup call you needed,” she said.

Magistrate Magee said that had the new charges been dealt with at the same time as the previous charge, no greater penalty would have been imposed.

Scott walked out with no further punishment and no conviction recorded.