Ice ‘behind high Coast crime rate’

THE Gold Coast’s crime rate has been blamed on the region’s consumption of drugs, especially ice.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair made the claim during a routine sentence in Southport Magistrates Court yesterday.

“There would be only two magistrates in Southport if people did not take methamphetamines,” he said.

The comments came in sentencing stay-at-home mum Sheree Costello to 18 months probation for drugs matters from August last year.

“I take a very dim view of people who come before me with possession of methamphetamine,” he said.

Costello pleaded guilty to nine charges including three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts each of possession drug related utensils, things related to drugs and failing to appear in court.

The court heard Costello was found with cocaine, crystal meth and a bag with cannabis residue during a search of her Surfers Paradise home about 4pm on August 3 last year.

Mr Sinclair sentenced Costello just moments after he refused bail to another man who, in an unrelated matter, was allegedly found with a “commercial quantity” of ice on his person over the weekend.

Jaya Varcoe, 32, was allegedly found with the drugs when he was searched at Gold Coast University Hospital.

Varcoe is set to appear in court via videolink on May 24.