A 34-year-old woman who passed drugs when she kissed a male friend at Risdon Prison was sentenced in the Launceston Magistrates Court to 10 months in jail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Megan Jane Chilcott, of Waverley, pleaded guilty to a count of unlawfully bringing unauthorised articles into a prison, two counts of supplying a controlled drug namely buprenorphine to another person at Risdon Vale on December 24 and December 31, 2020, and between January 8 to 15, 2021.
In sentencing, Magistrate Sharon Cure said that drugs in prison were a major problem and people who became involved in taking drugs into jail should expect a significant sentence.
READ MORE: Morrison, Lambie threatened with Albo's ICAC
Police prosecutor Mike Bonde said that a special operation targeting people taking drugs into prison apprehended Chilcott in the prison car park on January 29, 2021.
She had 41 Buprenorphine strips and Lyrica in cling wrap and tobacco concealed under her left breast which she was taking to her then-friend Phillip Standage.
Buprenorphine is a prescription drug that is taken as a replacement in the treatment of heroin and methodone dependence.
When apprehended Chilcott told police that she had supplied drugs to the prison on three previous occasions in December 2020
She received payments into her account at a rate of $50 for each Buprenorphine strip, but only made a small profit.
The court heard that the strips fetched a considerably higher price inside the prison and prisoners could accumulate a drug debt.
On New Year's Day in 2021 she brought nine strips sourced from a female who she paid $500.
"She brought them into the visitor centre and passed them by kissing the male," Mr Bonde said.
Mr Bonde said Chilcott was a link in a serious problem.
"She played a role in putting them into the prison system," he said.
Defence counsel Fran McCracken said Chilcott had a long-term friendship with a man who asked her to provide drugs to him.
She said that Chilcott's full and frank admissions to police had led to her being charged with further offences.
Ms Cure, who supervises the drug court in Launceston, said she heard time and time again of the problems of drugs in prison.
She said that Chilcott did not a have a significant criminal history and had only made a small amount.
"I express the view that the need for general deterrence is of high importance and outweighs all other considerations," she said.
"I do not think a suspended sentence would have a sufficient deterrent effect and neither would a home detention order.
READ MORE: Rosebery production falls as row rolls on
"Anyone who plays a part in making drugs available in prison must face a significant sentence."
Chilcott, who has a child with special needs, wept after the sentence was announced.
Ms Cure suspended six months of the sentence for two years.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
- Follow us on Google News: The Examiner