Drugs couple sent to prison

TWO former lovers were also business partners in the drug trade, linked with trafficking meth and thousands of dollars in cash.

Zoie Bianca Hamper, 31, and Matthew Joseph Robert Utz, 33, were partners during the one-month period they trafficked meth between January and February 2019.

Crown prosecutor Joshua Francis told the court a police search of their home on February 12, 2019, led to the find of more than two grams of pure meth in three separate bags, and about $10,000 cash, which Utz was in possession of, whereas Hamper was found with about $1300.

Scales, tick sheets and unused clip-sealed bags were also found.

The pair communicated with customers through Facebook messenger and text messages and arranged to deliver drugs to their customers at their homes.

They also sometimes provided drugs on credit and in exchange for items.

A data analysis of Utz’s phone showed he supplied meth or offered to on 30 different occasions.

The court heard Utz provided at least 13.4 grams of meth in total, and had about 25 customers.

“It provides a snapshot of the business … at that time was in full flight,” Mr Francis told the Townsville Supreme Court yesterday.

The court heard a seizure of Hamper’s phone showed she offered to supply users eight times, to six different people, anywhere up to seven grams.

The overall profit the former partners made from the selling of drugs is unknown.

The court heard Utz was on parole when he committed the offences and remanded in custody after he was arrested.

Hamper was released on bail and committed further offences, when police found meth in four clip-sealed bags in her bedroom in April 2019. They also found cannabis, cash and prescription drugs.

Hamper and Utz pleaded guilty to a raft of drug offences including trafficking.

The court heard Hamper also failed to attend court when ordered to do so, as a result of having a baby.

Justice David North that general deterrence needed.

“You were partners in life at one time, and you were partners in trafficking during part of that time,” he said.

Hamper was sentenced to five years jail and eligible for immediate parole.

Utz was sentenced to five years imprisonment with a parole eligibility date set for August 13 this year. said was