Hayley Renee Carson pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs

When police stopped a mum of four as she drove into the car park of a Queensland jail, she had a unique explanation for what was onboard.

Hayley Renee Carson leaving Maryborough Magistrates Court.

A mother of four has faced court after being busted with meth in the car park of the Maryborough jail while attempting to visit her prisoner partner.

Hayley Renee Carson pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and possessing a syringe or needle that had been used.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Booth said on December 9, 2023, police were at Maryborough Correctional Centre at Aldershot in relation to an operation.

Officers were stopping vehicles entering the car park and carrying out searches, he said.

About 2.15pm Carson attended the centre driving a blue Mazda and police observed her moving items around the front passenger seat.

After exiting the vehicle, Carson disclosed to staff there was meth in a container on the front passenger seat, Sgt Booth said.

Police carried out a search and located a glass container with one clip seal bag containing meth weighing 0.7 grams, a glass pipe, scales and four needles.

Maryborough Correctional Centre.

All the items were removed from the vehicle and Carson was further questioned, telling officers the vehicle belonged to a friend and she was visiting an inmate.

Carson said she had reached down to pick up some lip gloss from the floor and found the container, Sgt Booth told the court.

Duty lawyer Morgan Harris said his client had no criminal history and was forthcoming with police and prison officials.

She had made admissions before the items had been found, Mr Harris said, adding Carson acknowledged she had possession at that time and had entered a guilty plea at an early stage.

Magistrate John Milburn said the protection of the Queensland community was a “paramount consideration” when sentencing Carson.

“I consider a proportionate sentence given the circumstances of the offence and the level of criminality,” he said.

Mr Milburn fined Carson $800 and no convictions were recorded.

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Originally published as Hayley Renee Carson pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs