Serena Helen Tove Holm sentenced in Cairns Supreme Court for meth possession and supply

A Cairns Supreme Court judge said a former jewellery worker was a ‘miracle’ for rising above childhood trauma despite facing seven drug charges.

A Cairns Supreme Court judge said a former jewellery worker was a “miracle” for rising above childhood trauma despite facing seven drug charges.

Serena Helen Tove Holm, 37, pleaded guilty to seven charges including supplying and possession of methamphetamine on Tuesday.

The court heard when police searched her home they found a black case with clipseal bags containing 15.5g of substance and a pure amount of 11.286g of methamphetamine.

Messages showed Holm had arranged to supply to others, with one amount being 1.7g and another 3.5g.

Chief Justice Helen Bowskill said Holm had risen above incredible challenges.

“You had adverse childhood experiences, more than any human being’s fair share of those, notwithstanding that you have clearly been a hard worker and a valued employee at the jewellery shop,” Ms Bowskill said.

The court heard Holm was the sole carer of a daughter, 17, with disabilities, and of her brother, who had a condition where was born without the lower part of his spine, was wheelchair-bound and had undergone surgery to amputate his legs.

Serena Holm. Picture: Facebook

“You are a remarkable person for the support and help you provide to family,” Ms Bowskill said.

“In many respects you’re kind of a miracle rising above all those things … I think you should give yourself a pat on the back, it is pretty amazing really, say to yourself ‘I can do this, I can beat this addiction’.”

Prosecutor Clayton Wallis said the possession had a commercial aspect to it, with text messages indicating her capacity to supply meth.

Defence barrister Kelly Goodwin said Holm had several family members and family friends in court to support her, and tendered letters of support to the court.

“She had a very difficult and challenging upbringing,” Mr Goodwin said.

Mr Goodwin said Holm’s mother was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder and alcoholism and that Holm was exposed to domestic violence as her stepfather beat her mother.

She was diagnosed with ADHD at nine years of age and was placed into the care of her grandfather, Mr Goodwin said.

The court heard Holm had taken steps toward ending her addiction to methamphetamine. Picture: Supplied

Holm did not attend school beyond Year 7 due to her behavioural issues.

Mr Goodwin said she ran away aged 13 and got full-time employment at the Pizza Hut for five years.

Holm gave birth to her son, now 20, when she was 17 years old.

She took on care of another younger sibling when his father died, while another brother ended his life when he was 23 years old.

“She has worked for Michael Hill jewellers for more than 10 years, taken leave of absence but been informed by her employer a position is waiting for her,” Mr Goodwin said.

“She has been very candid in relation to her drug use.”

He outlined the treatment and rehabilitation initiatives Holm had embarked on.

Mr Goodwin acknowledged there was an element of commerciality.

“The drug scene is not her scene, she did not like regularly going out to source drugs so she sourced a larger amount, and supplied friends and associates … rather than openly touting she could supply drugs,” Mr Goodwin said.

Justice Bowskill sentenced Holm to two years in prison but said “I am overwhelmingly persuaded I should release you on parole” and set a parole date of February 27, 2024.

Originally published as Serena Helen Tove Holm sentenced in Cairns Supreme Court for meth possession and supply