Rachel Anne Hughes: Geraldton magistrate slaps drug dealer with intensive supervision order and $1250 fine

A woman with a history of drug use has avoided jail after a Geraldton court was told she used her phone to try to sell small quantities of methylamphetamine and had possession of it at her home. Rachel Anne Hughes, 36, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday for selling, or attempting to sell methylamphetamine, to support her drug habit. She pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and methylamphetamine, three counts of offering to sell methylamphetamine, and selling methylamphetamine on December 11, 2023. Police raided Hughes’ home in April last year and located a small quantity of cannabis in a clip seal bag and 2.1g of methylamphetamine on the kitchen table, which was for Hughes’ personal use, the court was told. Police prosecutor Sgt Beau Jones told the court during a search of her phone, officers located messages in which Hughes had offered to sell methylamphetamine on three separate occasions, in weights of 0.2g and 0.1g for $200 and $100. Defence lawyer Albert Kunneke said Hughes was previously in a violent relationship which led to heavy drug and alcohol use, and Hughes admitted to using drugs after the relationship ended. Mr Kunneke said Hughes only sold to people she had met through her former partner and not the general public. Magistrate Matthew Walton said the court was taking a harder approach to drug-related offences, particularly when commerciality is involved. He said Hughes was a drug dealer and had a connection to drugs for a long time, and the scale did not change the fact she was dealing drugs. “I accept she is a user herself, but nonetheless engaged in drug dealing for personal gain,” Mr Walton said. Hughes was sentenced to an eight month intensive supervision order and fined $1250. There was an order for destruction for the drugs. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)