Toowoomba mum Jemma Grace Tigges sentenced in Dalby Magistrates Court for repeated driving offences

A young Toowoomba mum who brazenly disregarded court orders by continuing to drive while suspended has learnt the hard way that a licence is a privilege, not a right.

Jemma Grace Tigges has been sentenced after repeatedly being caught drug driving and driving while disqualified.

A 21-year-old Toowoomba woman will be off the road for half a decade after she was caught on two separate occasions driving under the influence of drugs while her licence was disqualified.

Jemma Grace Tigges faced Dalby Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to six charges, including driving under the influence of drugs, driving while disqualified and driving while unregistered.

The court was told that on November 30, 2024, Tigges was intercepted about 7pm on Anzac Ave, Newtown for a roadside drug test where she returned a positive reading for methamphetamine and cannabis.

It was also revealed she had lost her licence in Toowoomba court in June 2023 for two years for drug driving.

A month later on December 1, 2024, the court was told police were called to an address after reports of suspicious behaviour involving two vehicles.

When they arrived they found Tigges, who said she had driven there to help a friend whose car had broken down.

She was subject to a drug test and again returned a positive reading for methamphetamine and cannabis.

Police once again discovered she was driving while disqualified and found her registration had expired ten days prior.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Tigges was “walking a fine line” with a significant history of drug driving and driving while disqualified offences.

He said she was also reaching the point where real prison time would be considered.

Tigges’ defence told the court she had experienced a difficult upbringing and had spent time on the street which led to her drug addiction.

For her offending she was placed on an 18-month probation order, received a two year licence suspension for each of the driving while suspended charges and three months on both drug driving offences.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Toowoomba mum Jemma Grace Tigges sentenced in Dalby Magistrates Court for repeated driving offences