Michelle Knowles: Dealing teen had cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine
A Pakenham painter was 19 when she was pinched peddling puff after cops came across a car that was strongly whiffing of weed.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A trafficking teenager caught with copious amounts of cannabis was dealing dope to pay for her habit and cover Covid cash lost due to lockdowns, a court has heard.
Michelle Knowles was nabbed with several bags of marijuana, as well as small quantities of cocaine and ecstasy, after her friend’s car was pulled over late at night near a Cranbourne park.
As well as paying for her own supply the Pakenham painter was also using the proceeds of peddling puff to help cover a loss of wages after her workplace suffered a downturn due to Covid lockdowns.
Knowles, now aged 20, pleaded guilty to trafficking cannabis and possessing MDMA and cocaine charges at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The court heard at 1.30am on November 17 last year a police patrol came across a Holden Commodore in Champagne Grove, Cranbourne North.
When officers approached they could smell a strong whiff of weed emanating from the vehicle.
Knowles, who was the front seat passenger, had one bag of cannabis in her handbag, another in the footwell and some more in the glove box, with a total weight of 270g.
Small Ziploc bags containing ecstasy and cocaine were also uncovered in the search.
She was arrested and her phone revealed texts detailing that she had been dealing dope.
She admitted trafficking, saying she had been onselling for the past six months.
Defence lawyer Lancelot Stewart said Knowles was trafficking as a way to earn money after she lost hours as a house painter due to pandemic restrictions, as well as to support her own drug habit.
He said she began smoking cannabis at 13, started taking LSD at 14 and ecstasy at 16, but was now no longer using.
He said since being arrested his client had sought medical assistance for drug and mental health issues and had distanced herself from people who had “negatively affected her”.
Magistrate Costas Kilias said she had had significant issues since the age of 13, and following this incident had taken steps to “get her life in order”.
He said she was a first-time offender, was fully co-operative with police and her references stated she was a valued employee.
Knowles was placed on a 12-month community correction order with conditions she undergo treatment and testing for drugs and perform 100 hours of unpaid work.
No conviction was recorded.
