Roslyn Ann Burke convicted trafficking and drug driving

A woman who supplied drugs to friends and family made a simple mistake that landed her in court.

Roslyn Burke pleaded guilty to trafficking cannabis.

A drug trafficker whose criminal dealings were exposed in a notebook and on her mobile phone has been told she is “skating on thin ice” in court.

Roselyn Ann Burke, 52, of St Albans Park, avoided jail on Tuesday and was instead convicted and served an 18 months community corrections order.

The unemployed woman pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates Court to drug driving and trafficking marijuana for supplying drugs to family and friends for no profit.

Police found evidence of trafficking on Burke’s mobile and a notebook and a scale during a search earlier this year.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Craig Williams told the court officers had discovered several messages of people asking for drugs on Burke’s phone.

Burke told officers during her arrest she had the scales to make sure the marijuana she had received weighed properly.

Burke also drove with drugs in her system several times, despite having her licence disqualified.

She returned a positive reading for methamphetamine and cannabis when police pulled the car she was driving over on January 1, 2022.

Police also discovered Burke was driving under the influence of drugs while being disqualified when officers stopped her in May 2022.

Burke was then again charged with driving unlicensed when she was pulled over early on July 28.

Burke’s lawyer told the court his client’s trafficking matter was not at the highest level of objective seriousness.

The court also heard Burke used cannabis for pain relief.

Constable Williams said the drug driving matter was serious.

“She continues to drive which is very concerning. If she continues to drive while disqualified, a term of imprisonment wouldn’t be outside of the realm,” he said.

Constable Williams said the trafficking matter was still serious even if she was selling drugs to friends and not making a profit.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie disqualified Burke from driving for three years.

“She’s certainly skating on thin ice, and if she comes back with drive while disqualified for unlicensed driving, then she really is looking at a term of imprisonment,” she said.

“She is not safe on the roads. She is driving with drugs in her system and I don’t want anyone near me who is affected by alcohol or drugs.”

Originally published as Roslyn Ann Burke convicted trafficking and drug driving