Mum gave drug to teen

Woman walks free after court hears of fears for daughter following sexual assault

A GOLD Coast mother who admitted giving her teenage daughter cannabis to cope with being sexually abused has walked from court on probation.

Southport District Court was yesterday told the woman, who started using cannabis herself after being raped at 16, feared for her daughter who was self harming after being sexually assaulted by a boy.

Barrister James McNab said the mother of two, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was suffering from depression and would wake in the middle of the night concerned her daughter might try to end her life.

“She was quite desperate at the time for her daughter’s safety,” Mr McNab said.

“There is no commercial element to this.” The court was told the woman made full admissions to police after officers raided her home in May 2016, owning up to supplying a small amount of cannabis to her daughter, possessing 25 grams of cannabis found in a clip seal bag, and possessing a glass water pipe and a set of scales used for weighing the drug.

Mr McNab said his client’s business helped raise money for charities. She also was accomplished in the business world, having been nominated for awards.

The mother and her daughter had agreed to give up cannabis together and a letter from the woman’s husband was also tendered to the court, detailing the couple’s commitment to set a good example for the children.

“There has been that history of agreement ... to facilitate some more positive outcomes for her daughter,” Mr McNab said.

“It was a good motivation for both of them to stop using the drug.”

Judge Katherine McGinness described the woman’s actions as “extremely misguided”, sentencing her to 12 months probation but opting not to record a conviction.

“(You) probably appreciate that it (cannabis use) has hindered you in leading a healthy and perhaps more productive life,” she said.

“It is so important that you not only do something about your own cannabis use but you dissuade your daughter.”

Judge McGinness warned the woman that she was likely to be drug tested while on probation.

She was desperate at the time for her daughter’s safety JAMES MCNAB