Rikkisha Desiree Yeates: Former West Perth women’s WAFL player avoids jail despite $20k marijuana bust

A former West Perth women’s WAFL player has avoided jail after being caught trying to drive $20,000 worth of cannabis from Perth to Geraldton. Rikkisha Desiree Yeates was arrested during a traffic stop on Brand Highway near Dongara on March 5 after police found nearly 2kg of the drug in a sports bag in the boot of her car. The 27-year-old told police she had been asked by an associate to drive the drugs to Geraldton and would be compensated with fuel money and 37.85 grams of cannabis as payment. The court was told she was a promising player for West Perth Football Club but had been unable to play due to a finger injury. It’s understood she played five games for the WAFL club in 2017. Geraldton District Court Judge John Prior said he accepted Yeates had disconnected from positive friends and fallen into bad habits after her hand injury. “I accept that you’re genuinely remorseful for your actions,” he said. “You’ve made significant steps in rehabilitating yourself. “But this was a substantial amount of cannabis found in your possession, nearly two kilograms. It is a serious offence.” He said Yeates was a drug courier and there was nothing to indicate that she was to be involved of the sale of cannabis in the Geraldton region. “You’ve now obtained employment and you no longer use cannabis,” he said. “And in that respect, I think you are a low risk of reoffending.” She was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, conditionally suspended for a year.