Car search finds ice in donation

A CHARITY drop-off box nearly received more than just pots and pans, a court heard.

Edmonton’s Brenda Regan, 53, was delivering a carload of goods to Lifeline last July when she was pulled over by police for a drug-drive test in White Rock. The furniture restorer tested positive for methylamphetamine and told police she had tried to get high by “licking a bag” that had once contained the drug.

A subsequent search of the car revealed another bag, taped to the bottom of a coffee machine destined for the charity donation centre. It contained nine MDMA tablets and a quantity of methylamphetamine, or ice.

Regan attended the Cairns police watch house in September and protested her innocence when, upon searching her bag, officers found more ice.

“She said she shared the bag with friends who sometimes stayed with her,” police prosecutor Gary Prior told Cairns Magistrates Court.

Regan pleaded guilty to 15 charges, including possessing and producing dangerous drugs, failing to appear and repeat unlicensed driving offences.

She told the court she was unaware that she had drugs in the car in July.

“I was taking a box to Lifeline – I had no idea of the drugs,” she said. “I licked a bag – that has been my drug use, that is all I have ever done.”

Magistrate Allan Comans sentenced Regan to 32 days time already served, fined her $600 and disqualified her from driving for two years.