Mum gave kids pot

A MOTHER who supplied drugs to children under the age of 14 cried in court as she was sentenced.

The woman, 36, who can’t be named to protect the identities of the children, gave marijuana to two children, aged 13 and 14, who were friends with her teenage daughter in April 2019.

Prosecutor Nigel Rees told the court the mother of three did not “corrupt” the children, who he described as “no strangers” to the use of marijuana.

The woman faced the Townsville Supreme Court via video link from the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre charged with two counts of aggravated drug supply to minors, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and supplying alcohol to a minor.

Mr Rees said the teenagers were hanging out with the woman’s daughter at the time.

“They were in the shed smoking marijuana,” he said.

“The (woman) supplied them the marijuana. She also supplied them with liquor.”

The woman’s home was searched and she was hit with further charges after a complaint was made to police.

Mr Rees said the woman had an extensive criminal history “littered” with dishonesty and drug offences which spanned 10 pages.

She is serving a sentence for other, unrelated offending and 177 days she has spent behind bars are not declarable as pre-sentence custody.

Defence barrister Dane Marley said the woman’s offending was objectively less serious than that of most others charged with similar offences, which can attract prison terms of up to 25 years.

“These were children who were already using drugs and they were both willing participants,” he said.

He said she had three children but only had her 16year-old daughter in her care.

Mr Marley said it was important the woman be released as soon as possible to allow her to support her daughter, who had become addicted to meth after her mother was imprisoned.

“It is of critical importance to (the girl’s) development that (she) is available to care for her,” he said.

“She is using methamphetamines and is effectively living on the street.

“(The woman) is very concerned for her and wants to be released so she can care for and assist with those issues.”

Justice David North sentenced the woman to a head sentence of nine months, to be wholly suspended.

This will hang over the woman’s head for two years.

She remains in custody for her other offending.