Drug-dealer mum jailed
Kids will think this is normal, magistrate says
“You have been spreading the misery around the community and the money you receive and use for your children has often been paid for by people breaking into houses to steal our things, to sell them and make money for drugs.”
A DRUG trafficking mum who sold drugs inside her family home will spend two weeks in prison before completing a six-week drug detox program.
North Geelong woman Melissa Jane Low pleaded guilty to trafficking and possessing cannabis at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard police executed a search warrant at 41year-old Low’s home in North Geelong in January.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Chris Capu- ano told the court police found $3200 in cash and 2.856kg of cannabis in zip lock bags around the house. The drugs had an estimated street value of $20,000.
Low’s defence lawyer told the court his client had had “a very hard life”.
“She’s got involved in something that is way over her head,” he said.
The court heard Low had been accepted into a six-week drug program at Stepping Up which starts on May 17. Her lawyer argued his client should be released from prison by that date to ensure she could be best placed to successfully complete the program.
Magistrate Ann McGarvie said Low’s offending was “extremely serious”.
“Because you wanted to make money you have been trafficking drugs,” Ms McGarvie said. “You have been spreading the misery around the community and the money you receive and use for your children has often been paid for by people breaking into houses to steal our things, to sell them and make money for drugs.”
Ms McGarvie said Low’s own children would likely fall into a life of drug addiction if she continued to expose them to drugs and sell drugs in the family home.
“They will fall down your path if they think it’s OK to live in a house where drugs are sold and drugs are used,” she said.
Low was sentenced to two weeks jail and a two-year community corrections order.
Ms McGarvie said Low would have to complete random drug tests.
“If (the Stepping Up) program and the CCO doesn’t put you on track, then nothing will,” Ms McGarvie said.
“You’ll end up spending longer periods in jail and your kids will grow up without you.”
A forfeiture order was made on the cash and drugs.
MAGISTRATE ANN MCGARVIE