Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Drug trafficking grandparents avoid jail

Two Brisbane grandparents who helped their daughter sell cannabis have avoided jail after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.

July 10, 2020

Two Brisbane grandparents have narrowly avoided jail for helping their daughter run a suburban drug-trafficking operation.

Sharon Marie Willbatt, 49, and Charles Phillip Burns, 61, pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking in the dangerous drug cannabis in 2018.

They were employed by their daughter, Nikitta Marie Burns, 29, to assist with drug supply and chasing up payments, the Brisbane District Court was told on Friday.

Charles Burns also sorted out “complaints about the quality of the cannabis”, Judge Vicki Loury said.

“It is a sad situation that two people, who are held in high regard by our community and who have worked hard throughout their lives to raise five children … find yourself here today,” she said.

“(You are) looking at the real possibility of going to jail for the entirely foolishly assistance you gave to your daughter.”

Judge Loury sentenced the grandparents of six children to 20 and 24 months’ imprisonment respectively but suspended it immediately.

Their daughter was not so lucky.

Nikitta Burns pleaded guilty to drug trafficking cannabis over 11 months in 2018 and 2019, along with two drug possession charges.

“You recruited your parents to assist in your business … Which was reasonably substantial,” Judge Loury said.

The court heard the alcoholic and recovered drug addict started selling illicit drugs after she lost her saving in a failed lawful business venture.

Her trafficking included street-level dealing, the majority of which were sales of about 50 grams of cannabis valued at about $550 per transaction.

“Your trafficking was over a long period of time. You did so to support your lifestyle,” Judge Loury said.

She sentenced Nikitta Burns to three years’ imprisonment with parole eligibility from January 9 next year.

The maximum penalty for trafficking a dangerous drug is 25 years’ imprisonment.

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