NASH DRUG STASH CLAIM
A YOUNG Geelong mum allegedly found with 25 grams of ice hidden in balloons intended to be delivered to a prison inmate has been bailed under strict conditions.
Twenty-five-year-old Demi Jade Nash, of no fixed address, was charged with trafficking and possessing methylamphetamine, possessing drugs of dependence Xanax and Endep and driving while suspended.
Ms Nash was remanded in custody at the weekend after she was picked up by police during a routine stop at the intersection of Point Henry and Portarlington roads at 1.10am Saturday.
During yesterday’s Geelong Magistrates’ Court bail application, police prosecutor, Leading Senior Constable Kylie Jane, said officers allegedly found six balloons containing more than 8.5 times the trafficable quantity of ice, three Xanax tablets in individual ziplock bags and five Endep tablets in a clear bag during a search of Ms Nash’s Mazda.
Ldg Sen-Constable Jane said officers arrested Ms Nash at the scene and took her to Geelong police station where she allegedly made full admissions to possessing drugs bound for the prison system.
“(Ms Nash) said she drove to Epping shopping centre and received the balloons from a woman of Asian appearance,” Ldg Sen-Constable Jayne told the court.
The court heard the woman told Ms Nash to “hide them (the balloons) or you’ll get in trouble” and that Ms Nash was told to pass the balloons on to a woman would take them to an unknown prisoner.
Police allege Ms Nash had been in possession of the balloons since March 14, had the Xanax “for a few weeks” and was given the Endep by “a friend”.
In opposing bail, Ldg SenConstable Jane said Ms Nash had admitted to using ice about three times a week, was homeless and was “an unacceptable risk of reoffending”.
But in applying for bail, Ms Nash’s lawyer, Sarah Wood, said her client had a stable ad- dress in Warrnambool where she would be supported by her younger brother, older sister and sick father, who she was required to help care for.
“Ms Nash shows cause where her ongoing detention is not justified,” Ms Wood said.
Brother Joseph Nash told the court his sister had been due to return to living at home to care for her father, who was facing cancer treatment, and spend time with her six-yearold daughter, who until recently she had cared for fulltime.
Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said Ms Nash was “in a lot of trouble” for her alleged offending and seemed to have no defence.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s heroin, ice or baking soda. The fact is you thought they were drugs and they were destined for the prison system.”
Ms Nash was granted bail to her father’s Warrnambool house under strict conditions, including that she abide by a curfew.
She will reappear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on April 16.