Shannon Maree Casey pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving, failure to provide specimen, not displaying P-plates

A Roma mother of three with an ‘appalling’ history, which includes nine prior convictions, has fronted court for her troubling interactions with police.

A single mum with an “appalling” criminal history has returned to court again for the tenth time for driving while under the influence.

Shannon Maree Casey, 27, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to two counts of drug driving, failing to provide a specimen and not correctly displaying her P-plates.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on December 31, 2022 police intercepted a Toyota HiLux for a drug test.

The defendant denied using illegal drugs within the last two weeks, however a saliva test proved otherwise when she tested positive for methamphetamine.

Five months later on June 7, Casey was intercepted again by police who spotted her leaving the BP fuel station and pulling into the IGA car park.

“Police approached and identified themselves and stated due to being intercepted she needed to stay with the vehicle,” Mr Donnelly said.

The court was told she again denied consuming any illicit drugs, however this time she failed to give a saliva sample to officers.

“Police (instructed) the defendant to place the device inside her mouth, however she closed her mouth to prevent police from following those instructions,” Mr Donnelly told the court.

“Police observed the pads on the device were still pink, indicating it had not made contact with a wet surface.

“Police advised the defendant she had not provided a specimen and gave her a second chance to comply.”

However Casey closed her mouth and handed back officers a dry device.

As a result she was detained for failing to provide police with a specimen.

Further, licence checks revealed Casey was a provisional licence holder, however she failed to correctly display P-plates on the front and rear of her vehicle.

Eventually police were able to get a specimen from Casey at the police station where she tested positive for methamphetamine.

Mr Donnelly said he had suspicions Casey was continually adjourning her first drink driving charge from December 2022 so it would technically land outside of the five year period since her last offence in March 2018.

“The defendant, in my respective submission, is not entitled to a benefit simply because she had not finalised the matter whether that is because she’s put explanations to the court (like) busy working, being unwell and so forth,” he said.

“It’s not appropriate in my submission that she receives the minimum disqualification.

“Her actions and the subsequent positive test showcase she well knew she consumed drugs… yet she tried to subvert that process.”

Defence lawyer Clancy Robba strongly denied the allegation his client was adjourning this matter to get a more lenient sentence.

Mr Robba said his client was a single mother of three and a lengthy driving disqualification will be expensive and negatively impact her children.

“The issue is taking her children to and from school and to and from daycare,” Mr Robba said.

“She’s mostly devastated she’s put her family in this position and (her inability) to provide for her family.”

Magistrate Shane Elliott said it was “crazy” the defendant was before the courts again for drug driving after being handed several terms of imprisonment previously.

“I take into account your history which can only be described as appalling,” Mr Elliott said.

“It’s absolutely crazy you would put your liberty at stake and the community in harm’s way by driving with drugs in your system.

“There are too many people, not only in Roma, but all around Queensland driving around with drugs in their system.

“You’re a risk to people in the community. I’m not sure when the message is going to get through to you, but you cannot continue to drive after having drugs in your system.”

Casey was handed a combined two month prison sentence, wholly suspended for nine months, and disqualified from driving for a combined 12 months for the two drug driving offences.

For failing to provide a specimen and not displaying P-plates, she was convicted and not further punished.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Shannon Maree Casey pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving, failure to provide specimen, not displaying P-plates