Rheannen May Connolly pleads guilty in Mackay court to meth possession, dangerous driving

A convicted meth dealer was given a chance to turn her life around. Instead she was busted with more drugs and nearly ran down a police officer.

Rheannen May Connolly pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including aggravated meth possession, dangerous driving, driving with drugs in her system.

A convicted meth dealer will be on parole until 2028 after she was busted with more drugs and nearly ran down a police officer.

Now Rheannen May Connolly will spend at least until December thinking about her actions.

In July 2022 then 27-year-old Connolly was given a chance to turn her life around after pleading guilty to trafficking for about 10 months in 2020.

She had about 10 repeat customers across Mackay, Moranbah and Emerald and bought meth for more than she could sell it.

At the time Justice Graeme Crow accepted her remorse was genuine but warned she had to turn her back on drugs otherwise she would go to jail, and sentenced her to three years imprisonment with immediate parole.

Justice Crow even noted in Mackay Supreme Court that immediate parole was “most uncommon for me in terms of drug traffickers”.

Fast forward 12 months to July 2023, Connolly is still on parole and was in the driver’s seat with drugs in her system and an aggravated quantity of meth in her handbag when police activated lights and sirens and parked directly in front of her vehicle.

The court heard she refused to exit the car and revved the engine, so an officer broke the vehicle’s side window and opened the door.

Connolly, still refusing to leave the car, reversed while an officer was standing near the open door.

The court heard he had to move fast to avoid being hit and/or seriously injured.

Connolly reversed onto a very busy Nebo Rd, forcing other motorists to change lanes to avoid a collision.

Officers chased her on foot and the vehicle came to a stop on Bagley St – a search revealed 2.869g of pure meth in a clip seal bag in a black handbag, and a used pipe.

The court heard tests also revealed Connolly had meth and marijuana in her saliva.

Rheannen May Connolly pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including aggravated meth possession, dangerous driving, driving with drugs in her system.

Now 29, she pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including aggravated meth possession, dangerous driving and driving with drugs in her system.

It was accepted the meth was for her own personal use.

Justice Crow said it was “very disturbing” Connolly descended into drugs at just 12 or 13 years old, starting with marijuana before being introduced to meth through a boyfriend.

The court heard post the earlier trafficking, the stress of the relationship breakdown between her mum and step dad resulted in her spiralling back to meth use and by 2023 and was deep back into her addiction.

She had been in custody since her arrest and had spent 361 days in jail on remand.

Justice Crow acknowledged Connolly had stayed clean while in jail, had completed multiple substance abuse programs and has properly started rehabilitation.

“(There is a) good chance of turning the corner if you’re strong enough to stay away from drugs,” Justice Crow said, also noting, “your background is troubling because you’ve been given so many chances and you’ve refused to take them”.

Justice Crow determined an appropriate but not “crushing sentence” would be three years jail, cumulative to the earlier three years, with parole eligibility on December 21, 2024.

He warned her if she offended again while on parole “the consequences are dire”.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Rheannen May Connolly pleads guilty in Mackay court to meth possession, dangerous driving