Meth dealer jailed

Mum ran ice business with son

A TOOWOOMBA mother was jailed for three years for her role in a meth and cannabis trafficking operation that she ran with her son.

Maree Elizabeth Patch appeared in the Toowoomba District Court yesterday to plead guilty to a raft of serious drug offences, including one count of trafficking and several counts of supplying methamphetamine.

Crown Prosecutor Shontelle Petrie told the court Patch trafficked in cannabis for eight months in 2018.

During that time, she purchased an average of six ounces of cannabis each week, onselling five and keeping one for personal use.

Phone records recovered after Patch’s arrest in December 2018 revealed she also sold meth, in conjunction with her son Michael Steven PatchMetzroth, 24, who is currently serving a five-year jail term.

“Despite the police involvement, Patch supplied dangerous drugs while she was subject to bail,” Ms Petrie said.

“It was when police executed a search warrant on her house on September 12, 2019 that police again seized her phone and found evidence of drug use and possession.”

For the defence, barrister Shane MacDonald said his client turned to drugs as a teen to cope with the trauma of her difficult childhood.

He added that Patch’s role in the family drug trade was secondary to her son.

In sentencing, Justice Deborah Richards noted the seriousness of Patch selling drugs while on bail.

“Dealing in drugs, particularly methamphetamine, is a very serious offence; the community needs to understand if you deal in drugs … it will come with a serious sentence,” she said

“You told police you were involved in that with your son, who was the major mover, but you were a very willing participant in the business.”

Justice Richards ordered a head sentence of two years’ jail for trafficking and a second 12-month jail term for supplying drugs while on bail, to be served cumulatively.

Patch will be released on parole on January 12, 2022.