A DRUG addict caught with a large amount of ice bound for jail has been imprisoned after also driving into the court car park with a woman clinging to her ute bonnet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Demi Jade Nash, 25, of Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to a range of charges, including trafficking ice and reckless driving endangering serious injury.
She was jailed for 120 days with 57 days already counted as served.
On release she will be placed on an 18-month community corrections order, with conditions she do 100 hours of community work as well as assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, programs and judicial monitoring.
Nash also had her driver’s licence cancelled for 12 months and will have to do a safe driver program before getting it back.
Magistrate John Lesser said Nash had a spectacular fall from grace, mainly due to her drug use.
But, he said she had a huge advantage because of her family support which she could use to get back on track.
The magistrate said it was clear that Nash would also need the support of a relatively lengthy CCO.
Nash lost her driver’s licence for 12 months in October last year in Geelong court for speeding at more than 45km/h over a 100 km/h zone limit.
On December 11 she was pulled over driving a Mazda in Corio and found to be driving under the influence of ice.
On March 17 this year Nash was intercepted in Point Henry Road at Geelong and 25.5 grams of ice was found in the driver’s footwell of the vehicle in six balloons, as well as eight prescription medication tablets.
When interviewed by police, Nash said she had received the drugs at the Epping shopping centre from a woman of Asian appearance.
The ice was to be passed on and be smuggled into a prison.
Nash said she was using ice three times a week at the time.
On April 6 Nash was driving a black Holden ute south in Fairy Street when she approached the round-about at Koroit Street.
She crashed into the back of another vehicle and a woman got her out of that car to exchange details.
Nash said she couldn't stop because she was late to an appointment at court.
The other woman driver, who stood in front of Nash's ute, insisted she pull into a park, Nash drove on and the woman jump onto the bonnet.
Nash turned right, drove past the Warrnambool police station before pulling into the Warrnambool court lower car park.
A police officer described Nash as "hooking it" down the court driveway with the other woman clinging to the bonnet.
The victim said she didn't have a choice but to try and hang on as she feared for her safety because of the speed and how Nash was driving.
When Nash parked she refused to talk to the woman, saying she had to attend her court appointment.
Police were called and Nash was arrested while having her first Court Integrated Services Program assessment.
She tested positive to using ice and police found an ice pipe and about .25g of ice in her ute.
Nash was also a suspended driver and her ute was not registered.
Defence lawyer Amanda Chambers said it was Nash’s first time in custody and it had been a sobering experience which made her client question the decisions she had made.
She said Nash moved from Warrnambool to Geelong to further her career but began associating with drug users and started taking ice.
Mid last year Nash lost her job, her car, her driver’s licence and accommodation and became involved with a man who was a much heavier drug user.
Ms Chambers said Nash was involved with the large amount of ice as a drug mule for her boyfriend who is now serving a minimum three years in prison.
