Cooking excuses for meth

A WOMAN busted with a “commercial quantity” of methylamphetamine told police that her drug utensils were for cooking and crafts.

Melanie Jane Heffernan, 31, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Townsville on Friday to a string of drugs charges.

Crown prosecutor Dane Marley said police searched Heffernan’s home on August 11, 2016. When they went to search her purse, she pulled out a clip- seal bag containing 22.6g of methylamphetamine.

Police also discovered $ 3000 in cash, digital scales, unused clip- seal bags, marijuana and six illegal tablets – four of MDMA and two containing MDA.

Mr Marley said Heffernan was interviewed and admitted she owned the bag of methylamphetamine, but denied knowing what it was.

“She said that she didn’t smoke cannabis and didn’t know about the cannabis,” he said. “She said in the interview that she used the clip seal bags for craft and the cash was to use to pay bills.

“She told police that the glass pipes were artwork and the used for cooking.”

Defence barrister Harvey Walters said Heffernan was a chef with a young daughter.

She had worked at James Cook University, The Coffee Club, a pizza restaurant, a Townsville apartment and as a head chef with Selwyn Mines.

“She started using drugs at age 27. That came about after she split with her daughter’s father,” he said.

Mr Walters said Heffernan “came to a very low point in her life” when she started dating another man.

“Over a period of time he offered and coached her into trying the drug,” he said.

“Within one week she was addicted to it.”

Mr Walters said the daughter would live with her father while Heffernan was in jail.

Justice David North said Heffernan was also caught drug driving in August.

“You were still using methylamphetamine, notwithstanding that you’d been arrested, charged and allowed bail through the court,” he said.

Justice North sentenced Heffernan to 2 ½ years in jail. for blowing scales were