Lisa Hinchcliffe-Rahley sentenced for Gladstone BWS incident

Drinking from a bottle of bourbon, a woman launched a verbal attack on BWS staff at a Central Queensland shopping centre before police made a shock discovery in her handbag.

Lisa Malvene Hinchcliffe-Rahley faced court after an incident at a Gladstone shopping centre. Generic image.

A woman has faced court after she was busted with a “large amount” of drugs in her handbag following an incident at a Central Queensland shopping centre.

Lisa Malvene Hinchcliffe-Rahley, 45, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to public nuisance in the vicinity of licensed premises and possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard that just after 5.15pm on December 8, police received a Triple-0 call in relation to a seemingly intoxicated Hinchcliffe-Rahley who was being verbally aggressive and offending people inside the Stockland Shopping Centre on the Dawson Highway, Gladstone.

“At the time of the offence (Hinchcliffe-Rahley) was seen by multiple witnesses drinking liquor from a glass bottle and verbally abusing staff within the BWS shop,” police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins said.

“There were also young children present and other shoppers.”

Lisa Malvene Hinchcliffe-Rahley verbally abused staff at a Gladstone BWS store during a shopping centre incident.

Sgt Hoskins said police found Hinchcliffe-Rahley pushing a shopping trolley on Paterson Street about 5.30pm.

The prosecutor said Hinchcliffe-Rahley admitted to police she had been yelling and swearing inside the shopping centre while drinking from a bottle of Woodstock bourbon.

“She explained that part of the reason for her behaviour was her phone was flat and she was struggling to organise a lift for herself and her groceries,” Sgt Hoskins said.

“She was detained for the purposes of a search and she declared there was marijuana in her handbag.”

Police found 112g of cannabis inside Hinchcliffe-Rahley’s handbag which Sgt Hoskins said was “quite a large amount” to have with her.

“Most people (caught) have got three or four grams on them,” Sgt Hoskins said.

The court heard Hinchcliffe-Rahley had an eight-page criminal history and “a lot of it” was drug related.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said Hinchcliffe-Rahley’s partner died last year and on the day of the incident she was frustrated and worried that her groceries wouldn’t last long if she couldn’t get them home.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Hinchcliffe-Rahley $800 and convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Lisa Hinchcliffe-Rahley sentenced for Gladstone BWS incident