Woman in car full of booty

A WOMAN has claimed she was abandoned when she was found by police high on drugs and inside a stolen car that was packed with tainted goods.

Samantha Joselyn Cragie pleaded guilty to receiving tainted property and other offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and drug charges when she faced Townsville Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police prosecutor Darryn Casson said Cragie was found by police in the passenger seat of a stolen car in Charters Towers on August 26, 2016.

Mr Casson said a “vast’ quantity of stolen property linked to burglaries in Townsville was in the car. Among the stolen items were multiple computers, jewellery, cash, handbags, purses, tablets, tools, collectable coins and a safe. Weapons, including knives and an axe were also found.

Defence lawyer Michael O’Dea said Cragie was under the influence of drugs when she was found in the car.

“She was with a couple of people she didn’t know too well and was in a drug haze,” he said. “They deserted her, left her in the car and the police came along.”

Mr Casson said there was no allegation Cragie was involved in stealing the goods.

Magistrate Richard Lehmann said drugs were clearly the main reason behind Cragie’s offending, noting her most recent charge was driving with methamphetamine in her system in March this year.

Mr Lehmann sentenced her to an 18- month probation order. As part of the order, Cragie will have to undertake random drug testing and counselling.