A FORMER Horsham woman has faced court for her alleged involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking operation after she fled the state nine years ago.
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Yannita Redshaw appeared via video-link in Horsham Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for a sentencing indication.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Michelle Wentworth alleged Redshaw was involved in manufacturing methamphetamine in the region in 2008.
She was arrested with two co-accused, but bailed. She then moved to Queensland.
Senior Constable Wentworth said police had Redshaw under surveillance from 2007 to 2008 in relation to methamphetamine manufacturing in Horsham and Jung.
She said Redshaw was known to pharmacists in the region as an alleged ‘pseudo-shopper’, where she would go to pharmacies and buy pseudoephedrine products that were allegedly used to make methamphetamine.
Senior Constable Wentworth said on one occasion Redshaw allegedly tried to buy pseudoephedrine from a pharmacy at Warracknabeal and gave the pharmacist a letter from a Chinese doctor.
“When she was refused pseudoephedrine, she started begging for it,” she said.
On August 7, 2008, police searched a house in Horsham and arrested Redshaw and two co-accused.
Senior Constable Wentworth said in the house, police found many items relating to the manufacture of methamphetamine, including plastic containers, chemicals, plastic tubing, electronic scales and hydrochloric acid, along with two bags of methamphetamine.
Similar items were also seized at a Jung property.
“The items were examined by chemists and determined to be consistent with items needed to manufacture methamphetamine,” Senior Constable Wentworth said.
She said Redshaw’s daughter, 4, was also at the house at the time.
Redshaw allegedly told police that she did not cook methamphetamine but her co-accused did.
She denied shopping for pseudoephedrine.
The defence solicitor said when Redshaw was bailed, she was young and homeless with no support in Horsham.
“She left to go to Queensland to live with her mother,” she said.
“She is not a user of drugs anymore, she’s left that scene.
“She knows she should have stayed to deal with the charges and she’s felt the stress of the charges hanging over her ever since.”
Magistrate Gregory Robinson said while someone who fled the state should not be rewarded, Redshaw had no further offending since 2008 and had rehabilitated herself.
Mr Robinson said if Redshaw pleaded guilty, he would impose an 18-month suspended jail sentence.
“Trafficking methamphetamine is a serious matter and the effects on the community are widespread, mostly because of the crimes people who use it commit,” he said.
Redshaw is yet to enter a formal plea.