In court: Bonny Osborne jailed for Goulburn meth supply

Bonny Lee Osborne, 22, of Goulburn, appeared via audio visual link from custody at Goulburn Local Court on August 25. She pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of a prohibited drug, drive vehicle with illicit drug in system, and three charges of supplying a prohibited drug.

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Magistrate Geraldine Beattie told the court the charges related to selling methamphetamine, known as meth, to the Goulburn community with 32-year-old co-accused Gavin Slattery.

She said Osborne sold 0.1 grams, known as a point, of meth on February 19 for $70, another point on March 1 for $100, and two points on March 12.

The magistrate said Osborne was also charged with possession of 0.55 grams of buprenorphine, a prescription drug used to treat opioid dependence.

"[Osborne was] willing to engage in drug supply to at least three people in the community," she said.

Defence lawyer Joe Weller argued the past four and a half months in custody had been "a phenomenal wake-up call" for his client.

"This is her first time in prison, as you can probably imagine it was quite a shock to the system," he said.

Mr Weller argued Osborne was "adamant she'll never end up in prison again".

He told the court Osborne had been in a "domestic and intimate relationship" with Slattery for four years. Mr Weller said Osborne met Slattery at 18 years old and this relationship was "the fork in the road".

"She was a vulnerable young woman and fell into the company of an older man who appeared to offer her love and affection."

He told the court Osborne had been "effectively abandoned" by her parents at a young age and was raised by her grandparents before her grandfather died.

"Her mother was a drug addict and her father was a drunk," he said.

"[Osborne] left school at the age of 15 and got herself a job at her own volition."

He presented to the court that the defendant had also obtained a formal qualification in aged care before she met the co-accused.

Mr Weller argued Slattery was leading the drug dealing criminal enterprise in Goulburn.

He said his client was a drug addict herself and would be "faced with the inevitable temptation of any addict when she was eventually released from custody".

The lawyer urged Magistrate Beattie to consider a sentence served in the community over imprisonment, to allow Osborne to "return to life as a working tax-paying citizen".

"If she wants to live a crime-free life she has the inner resources to do it," Mr Weller said.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said Osborne was "adamant" her relationship with Slattery was viable.

"It sets alarm bells ringing [about] what's going to happen when she gets out."

Mr Weller argued this was "not an invitation to re-engage with criminal activity".

"[Slattery] appears to be the only relationship she's had in her whole life as a child and adult that's provided any love and affection," he said.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wright said the need for general deterrence was "certainly relevant in Goulburn and surrounding regional towns".

She argued Slattery was "in effect using [Osborne] as a part of his drug dealing business, and if she thinks that's going to be healthy for her she needs to reflect on that".

Magistrate Beattie told the court Osborne had breached bail and court orders in the past

"I've got grave concerns that if you get out of custody ... you'll fall by the wayside again," she said.

She argued that while the drugs were not large amounts, Osborne had sold drugs "on three separate occasions to three different people".

Osborne was sentenced to 12 months full-time custody with a six-month non-parole period. She was also fined $900 and disqualified from driving for four months.

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