Coffs Harbour woman Melanie Cox, 53, sentenced for ‘helper’ role in meth supply ring

A kaftan-loving meth supplier who runs a ‘coastal boho chic’ business has been sentenced for her involvement in a Mid-North Coast drug ring – but sashayed out of court in her silks sans jail time.

Melanie Cox leaves Coffs Harbour court on January 14 2025.

A kaftan-loving meth supplier who runs a ‘coastal boho chic’ business has been sentenced for her involvement in a Mid-North Coast drug ring – but sashayed out of court in her silks sans jail time.

Coffs Harbour woman Melanie Cox, 53, was handed down an 18-month Intensive Corrective Order (ICO) in Coffs Harbour Court on Tuesday after her involvement in the drug ring.

But it’s not the first time she has escaped jail time, having been sentenced for similar offences in 2022.

Cox, who operates a ‘coastal boho chic’ furniture business, has often appeared in court wearing a variety of outlandish outfits, including a signature kaftan and cowboy boots. She also sports a Louis Vuitton tattoo on her wrist, showing the print plastered across the fashion giant’s handbags.

Court documents state that while Cox’s phone was tapped, she agreed to drive a co-offender to the Central Coast and purchase a quantity of methamphetamine. She picked up another man on the way, the documents continue.

Melanie Cox leaves Coffs Harbour court on November 12, 2024.

The trio were caught by police on their return trip on August 1, 2023 and officers found an envelope containing 138.82 grams of methamphetamine under the front passenger seat.

Cox initially denied any knowledge of the purpose of the trip but when officers revealed they had intercepted her phone calls, Cox admitted “yes, I’m a helper”, driving co-offenders around to collect or supply drugs.

Melanie Cox at Coffs Harbour Court, November 12, 2024.

Cox pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal group by contributing to criminal activity and taking part in supplying a prohibited drug in September last year.

In 2022, Cox was sentenced to a 15 month intensive correction order served in the community after being found with ice, cocaine and cash in her car when it was stopped on the Pacific Hwy near Boambee, during a wider probe into large-scale drug dealing between Sydney and Tweed Heads.

Mel Cox was sentenced for drug matters in Coffs Harbour Local Court on September 27, 2022.

Her current ICO expires on July 13, 2026 and includes 120 hours of community service work.

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Originally published as Coffs Harbour woman Melanie Cox, 53, sentenced for ‘helper’ role in meth supply ring