Ex-lawyer Briana Ioannides’ spree of drug offending while on parole for trafficking

Former Gold Coast criminal lawyer and convicted drug trafficker Briana Ioannides has again learned her fate in court after racking up a raft of drug offences while already on parole.

Disgraced former criminal lawyer Briana Ioannides has been granted immediate parole eligibility after pleading guilty to her latest spree of drug offending.

The convicted drug trafficker, now 35, was already on parole when she supplied and offered or arranged deals of small quantities of methylamphetamine, cocaine, and butanediol between May 19 and October 18 last year.

Southport District Court was told police found the messages on Ioannides’ phone when they searched a Nerang home, where she was also caught with a vial of testosterone.

Briana Christine Ioannides outside Southport Magistrates Court.

Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy said Ioannides was found with two clip-seal bags containing less than 1g of meth and other contraband when pulled over by police on October 3.

Ms Guy said the ex-lawyer tried to conceal one of the bags during a search at the scene, and was busted trying to hide another item from her handbag down the back of her pants when she was later taken to a police station.

The court was told Ioannides was in 2019 sentenced to eight-and-a-half years’ jail after trafficking substantial amounts of meth and GHB with her partner at the time.

She was returned to custody in November last year and her parole remains suspended.

Ioannides has had numerous brushes with the law. Photo: David Clark

Ioannides told her legal team and a psychologist that she continued to use drugs – particularly cocaine and meth – after her initial release in March, 2021, but at substantially lower levels than previously, it was heard.

Defence barrister Bernard Reilly, instructed by Jacobson Mahony Lawyers, said his client did have an “appalling” criminal history but still held real prospects of turning her life around.

Mr Reilly said Ioannides now recognised that living on the Gold Coast was in neither her nor the community’s interests and that she needed to remove herself from her negative peer group.

The court was told psychological reports described Ioannides as an intelligent person focused on her rehabilitation, having previously struggled with media and online scrutiny and the financial impact of losing her legal career.

Gold Coast lawyer Briana Ioannides arrives at Brisbane Court to face drug charges. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Judge Jodie Wooldridge said Ioannides’ trafficking had been linked to her severe substance abuse disorder, urging her to abstain from drugs as she had already been able to for periods.

“If you do not, it should be readily apparent to you, Ms Ioannides, what your future will look like,” Judge Wooldridge said.

“You may perceive your life to not revolve around drugs on the last occasion, and yet you find yourself in this position.”

Ioannides pleaded guilty to more than a dozen charges including supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, unlawfully supplying a relevant substance or thing, and obstructing police.

She was sentenced to 18 months’ jail with immediate parole eligibility.