Mikaela Anne Gates-Hull sentenced after being caught with commercial quantities of meth

A former animal welfare worker caught with commercial quantities of ice in her bra has been sentenced for a spree of offending in Cairns while on parole.

A former animal welfare worker caught with commercial quantities of ice in her bra has been sentenced for a spree of offending while on parole.

Mikaela Anne Gates-Hull, 27, pleaded guilty to eight charges including four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, possession of anything used in the commission of a crime, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence, possessing used utensils or pipes, and wilful damage.

She has previous convictions, including being caught at Brisbane Airport en route to Cairns with just more than 135g of ice stuffed inside her bra and underwear. Gates-Hull was sentenced to jail in July 2020.

Cairns Supreme Court Justice James Henry ordered a pre-sentence psychiatric report in September last year to gain information on how she could best break a cycle of violent relationships and drug abuse.

Mikaela Anne Gates-Hull, 27, appeared in Cairns Supreme Court on eight drug related charges, including having five clipseal bags of meth hidden between her breasts. Picture: Supplied

Crown prosecutor Emily Thambyah said Gates-Hull was on parole when a police search of a Minnie St address found her in possession of drugs and paraphernalia, including scales.

Earlier, Gates-Hull crashed a car under the influence of methamphetamine, and while in possession of a cornucopia of drugs including dexamphetamine and ketamine, on February 17, 2022.

She had five clipseal bags containing meth between her breasts.

Ten days later, Queensland Corrective Services was notified an ankle bracelet she was wearing had been removed and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

But it took police until October 26, 2022 – eight months – to find Gates-Hull and arrest her. She was found in Parramatta Park and told police she had drugs in her handbag – 11.4g of a substance containing 8.68g of meth, $5200 cash and digital scales, in what Ms Thambyah submitted was a commercial operation.

A psychiatrist’s report said Gates-Hull accepted she needed support. Picture: File photo

Justice Henry noted his own previous sentencing remarks outlining Gates-Hull’s very disadvantaged life history and upbringing of abuse.

“My concern (is) that you were on something of a merry-go-round,” he said.

He said there appeared to be a degree of reticence by Gates-Hull to engage in rehabilitation but noted the psychiatrist’s report stated she had resilience, motivation and acceptance she needed support.

Mikaela Anne Gates-Hull, 27, appeared in Cairns Supreme Court on eight drug related charges, including having five clipseal bags of meth hidden between her breasts. Picture: file photo

Justice Henry said Gates-Hull was only two weeks into her parole when she started offending on February 17, 2022, was returned to custody in October 2022 and had until February 4, 2024, to serve that sentence.

He handed down a head sentence of three years, declared pre-sentence custody of 414 days as time served, and set a parole date of June 13.

Originally published as Mikaela Anne Gates-Hull sentenced after being caught with commercial quantities of meth