Before the court door was shut to the public, the woman pleaded guilty to possessing the drug buprenorphine with intent to supply.
The court was told that on February 18 this year she had been visiting in the prison when a dog indicated she could be carrying drugs. A 0.5cm diameter amount of the drug had been found and police were called.
The 31-year-old woman’s lawyer told the court the offence was serious, particularly because it involved a breach of prison security.
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READ NOWHowever, he said his client had been preyed upon, was vulnerable and was under the influence of others.
‘She had a boyfriend in jail and was being used by him and others,’ the lawyer said.
‘The boyfriend was saying bring them (the drugs) in, bring them in, bring them in.
‘She was approached in the car park (at Hakea) and told if she did not do it there would be an issue.’
The lawyer also said his client had lived an unstable life, had a heroin addiction that she ‘kicked’ in January this year, had lost custody of her son and had no paternal role model.
The woman, who had been on a disability support pension since 2001, suffered from a bipolar disorder and depression and had a psychosis.
The magistrate said he was not going to accept the lawyer’s submission about the woman being approached in the car park and being coerced into taking the drugs into Hakea without taking her evidence.
He then closed the court to listen to what she had to say.
The 31-year-old and her lawyer were clearly relieved when the magistrate decided to impose only a community-based order.