A Shellhabour woman will spend three more weeks in custody so she can plan where she will stay once released after she bought 2.2 litres of liquid ecstasy last year.
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Kelly Dent, 40, pleaded guilty to knowingly taking part in the supply of a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug after police intercepted her while she was returning home from buying Gamma-butyrolactone in Sydney.
Judge Andrew Haesler sentenced Dent to a year and 10 months in prison, with a non parole period of one year and one month.when she appeared in Wollongong District Court on Friday.
Dent will be released to parole on October 22.
"There will be a short period of further custody, that will give you time to liaise with probation and parole to set up support mechanisms," he said.
In agreed facts, Dent came under police notice from detectives in Strike Force Ables who were investigating the sale of drugs in the region after they listened to co-offender Jason Amoroso's calls last year. He has been sentenced for his role.
Police intercepted a call between Amoroso and Dent on July 3, where she told him she was attempting to buy a large amount of GBL from a supplier in Sydney.
Dent told Amoroso one litre would cost $2000, which he agreed to buy as he had "a couple of grand". She would buy another litre.
On July 16, police heard Amoroso tell Dent that he would transfer the remaining $200 he owed so she could buy the GBL as she was in Sydney.
About 4.45pm that same day, police found Dent parked on the side of the M1 Princes Motorway at Maddens Plain and her car was searched.
Police found seven bottles of varying sizes containing a clear liquid in the car boot which Dent said was "just water. I use them in my radiator because the car keeps overheating".
Police told her they suspected the bottles were GBL. Analysis confirmed one of the bottles that had a Pepsi label on it was 2.2 litres of GBL.
Police also found two resealable plastic bags containing 0.9 grams of MDMA and 0.6 grams of meth.
Police allowed Dent to leave without charge but because she was a disqualified driver, she was unable to get home so she called Amoroso who went to collect her.
During the phone call she told him, "I'm going to jail Jas... They've just taken every water bottle from the boot including that one. I said they're just water. They have to test it. I'm going to jail. I'm so screwed, oh my god".
On July 22, police went to Dent's home to arrest her but she passed out.
An ambulance was called and Dent was taken to Shellharbour Hospital but was released into police custody where she was charged. She has in custody since.
In court on Friday, Dent told Judge Haesler that she had a "heavy drug habit" and to save time and money she bought GBL in bulk.
When she purchased the 2.2 litres she was only going to make a profit of $400 from Amoroso, which would be spent on her share of the drug.
She said she funded her addiction through working casually as a prostitute and breeding fish.
Dent also told Judge Haesler how she had been locked in her cell a lot due to the pandemic.
Upon her release, Dent said she wanted to care for an ill friend, engage in dug and alcohol programs so she could stay clean, get mental health support and repair her family relationships.
Judge Haesler noted Dent organised the purchase and intended to on-supply half to Amoroso.
"She played her role in the distribution of drugs to other users," he said.
Judge Haesler took into account her guilty plea, criminal record, tragic childhood trauma and being a victim of domestic violence. He also accepted her remorse and that she had taken responsibility for her decisions.
Dent has a treatment management plan set up upon her release from custody
"If she keeps to it and takes up the help offered, she may get the assistance she so sorely needs," he said.
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