WENDY Hayhoe only had two drink drive offences to her name before this year. But on Wednesday the 43-year-old Goulburn woman was sentenced to 18 months’ prison for 12 counts of knowingly supplying methylamphetamine and one count of drug possession.
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She is one of more than 19 people charged under Strikeforce Coull, targeting the drug commonly known as ‘ice.’ Her solicitor told Goulburn Local Court it was a “peculiar situation.”
“She has reached the age of 43 and has never been in trouble with the law and certainly not with drugs,” the solicitor said.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie pointed out there were two drink-drive matters, one each in 2004 and 2007.
The solicitor said her client was introduced to the drug, ‘ice’ in 2013 when her father was unwell. He died earlier this year and Ms Hayhoe was still dealing with grief.
Her client also felt pressured by her supplier to deal the drug.
“I’ve asked her why she took the drug and she could not explain it,” the solicitor said.
“…It appears that at the age of 42 she fell in with the wrong crowd.”
Hayhoe pleaded guilty to all 13 charges.
Police arrested and charged her after scores of telephone intercepts.
Over the fortnight starting September 14 this year, she supplied 9.9 grams of ice to people. Coaccused Brooke Emily Pollack was a recipient on several occasions, police alleged. Pollack was also charged under Strikeforce Coull. She is facing 55 charges, 54 of those for supplying illegal drugs.
Hayhoe’s deals netted anywhere from $50 to $850 on each occasion.
On October 3 police executed a search warrant on her Howard Boulevard home. Officers found small amounts of ice in a wallet tucked under a bed sheet and more in other areas of the house. They also discovered numerous small plastic ‘deal bags,’ electronic scales, several mobile phones, syringes and a small glass pipe.
Police arrested her and another coaccused, 55-year-old Kim Carney, at the house.
Carney is facing five charges of supplying a prohibited drug, two counts of possession and one of having suspected stolen goods. On Wednesday her case was adjourned until December 10.
At Goulburn Police Station, Hayhoe made “certain admissions” during interview, documents stated.
She has been held in the John Moroney Correctional Centre since her arrest and appeared via audiovisual link on Wednesday.
Her solicitor said her client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
She is a single mother with a 15- year-old daughter and was previously employed at the Goulburn Golf Club bistro.
In prison she had been gainfully employed and was committed to doing the “right thing.”
“She is obviously not using drugs while in prison and has told me today that she won’t use them again,” the solicitor said.
She requested a community service order focused on rehabilitation, saying at this stage of her life she had very good prospects.
Magistrate Beattie said the early guilty plea carried “significant utilitarian value.”
“The charges are very serious,” she said.
“There has been quite a bit of publicity on various media about the impact of ice on rural communities and the highly addictive nature of the drug.”
Magistrate Beattie said references spoke highly of the defendant, describing her as a caring, honest and loyal friend. All had expressed shock over the charges.
“I accept that your supply of the drug is part of your own addiction,” she said.
“It says here that you spent $15,000 of your inheritance on the drug.”
The magistrate said a community service order was not appropriate given the number of charges.
However she would reduce the custodial period given “very good prospects of rehabilitation.”
She sentenced Hayhoe to 18 months’ prison with a non-parole period of nine months. The other nine months will be spent under supervision.
Hayhoe will be due for release on July 20, 2015.
