Pregnant woman had ice in handbag

A PREGNANT woman caught with methylamphetamine told a magistrate it was an “honest mistake” the drugs were in her bag and she had not touched meth since discovering she was pregnant.

The woman, 27, pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday to possessing a dangerous drug.

Prosecutor Sergeant Mick Harms said police intercepted and searched a car in Rasmussen about 6pm on April 20.

The woman, who was in the back seat, had 0.4 grams of methylamphetamine ( ice) in her handbag.

She represented court.

“I was at my mum’s, I got my old handbag out of the cupboard – cause I’ve got three children and we were going to the park – to put all their stuff in like their drinks and snacks and whatnot,” she said.

“I had completely forgotten it was there,” she said.

Magistrate Ross Mack asked the woman: “You didn’t know how it got there?”

“I completely forgot it was there, it was an honest mistake,” she replied.

The woman started crying and told the court she was seven months pregnant.

“I haven’t touched ( methylamphetamine) since October last year ... I didn’t find out I was pregnant until October,” she said.

The woman said her three children were taken by the Department of Child Safety after she was charged with possessing drugs.

Mr Mack asked how she would pay a fine, and she said she could use her Centrelink allowance.

He said the woman had a history of drug offending and the fine would have to be significant. She was fined $ 750. herself in