A Northam woman has been sentenced to jail for two-and-a-half years after she pleaded guilty to 15 charges, including possessing and having the intent to sell 45 grams of methamphetamines.
Danielle Lowther, 32, was part of the Northam drug syndicate that was exposed last November after police seized meth, stolen items and weapons that were believed to be worth $100,000 on the street.
The two-month operation by Wheatbelt detectives resulted in seven drug dealers from Northam being charged with drug-related offences.
Lowther appeared in the Perth District Court on December 8 for sentencing on the 15 charges in relation to selling and the possession of meth over three months from September to November in 2016.
District Court Judge Philip McCann came to the conclusion that Lowther fell into the criminal lifestyle and was doing more than most people to drag herself out of it, according to the District Court sentencing transcript.
Judge McCann took into account Lowther’s plea of guilty and her “past and future cooperation with the police and the authorities” in sentencing her to two years and three months’ jail, downgraded from four years and six months.
Her sentence was backdated to November 18, 2016 to take into account the time she had already spent in jail.
Lowther appeared in the Northam Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from Melaleuca Prison to be sentenced on a further nine charges that included possessing $8100 of illegally obtained cash and three stolen motorcycles.
Lowther had previously pleaded guilty to the charges on November 6, 2017.
Lawyer Simon Freitag asked Magistrate Jennifer Hawkins to take into account the co-operation Lowther had offered to police and her good behaviour at Melaleuca Prison.
Northam prosecuting officers asked for a cumulative sentence for the offending, which they believed was very serious.
But Lowther was handed a 26-month concurrent jail term for intent to sell or supply meth and cannabis and possessing stolen items.
She was fined $1000 for driving without a licence and her licence was disqualified for nine months.
Lowther was also given a global fine of $800.
Magistrate Hawkins told the court that Lowther was eligible for parole.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
