Billie Burnham pleads guilty to substantial meth bust in Surfair pokies room

A once aspiring horse husbandry worker has admitted to possessing a substantial amount of ice while on gaming machines in a beachside Sunshine Coast hotel.

Billie Burnham faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video from jail on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook

A once promising horse trainer has been told she can apply for parole following a substantial meth bust at a Sunshine Coast pub.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard how Billie Burnham was spotted acting suspiciously in the Surfair Beach Hotel pokies room at Marcoola on March 15 which ultimately led to her arrest on serious drug charges.

Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said the 25-year-old was spotted by the Sunshine Coast Tactical Crime Squad about 1am on the gambling machines where she was spoken to.

Sergeant Newman said officers realised there was a “huge bulge” coming from Burnham’s pocket of her track pants, with the Eerwah Vale woman acting agitated and started to shake while touching her pants.

The court heard police were in the area due to receiving information about the sale of drugs at the venue, and decided to detain Burnham.

What officers found in the bulge of her pocket was a clip seal bag wrapped in cling wrap which held other small baggies containing 3g of meth. Two syringes were also found.

Billie Burnham. Picture: Facebook

Sergeant Newman said 10 diazepam tablets were also found however they weren’t the subject of any charges.

Burnham was granted bail however breached this three times and failed to appear in court, which led to her spending 49 days in custody.

In court on Wednesday, she pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs over the schedule amount, failing to appear and failing to dispose of needles along with three of breaching bail.

Sergeant Newman said police did not allege there was any commerciality involved with the large amount of ice found.

Billie Burnham. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Aaron Stewart said the Eerwah Vale woman came from a prejudicial upbringing and had ongoing mental health concerns but was actively trying to seek help for them.

The court heard one of her bail breaches was due to Burnham being involved in a car crash in Nambour which left her in hospital for two days.

Mr Stewart told the court Burnham was remorseful for her actions and had time to reflect while in custody.

He said Burnham was once a promising equine worker who studied horse husbandry and even had a scholarship in horse training at one point. She now worked in property maintenance.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan said the ball was in Burnham’s court if she was “tempted to go back to the gear” or steer clear of drugs to help her life.

Burnham was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, but was given parole eligibility as of Wednesday. Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Billie Burnham pleads guilty to substantial meth bust in Surfair pokies room