Addiction brought woman's downfall

By Court Reporter | Saturday, September 17, 2011 6:00

CLASSIC CASE: Kelli-Ann Taylor was a successful woman until she became addicted to methamphetamine.

File

A Wanganui woman's downfall from a good upbringing and acclaim as a top student to being jailed on drugs charges was "a classic methamphetamine story".

Kelli-Anne Taylor had an "awesome" upbringing and was said to be a good mother to her two children despite her offending, her lawyer Roger Crowley explained in Whanganui District Court.

It was clear she didn't fit in or like school and left at a young age, but returned to Whanganui UCOL later in life and was named top business student.

Taylor, 36, sat red-eyed and teary in the dock as Mr Crowley revealed the mother of two was a bright person who "pulled herself up by her bootstraps".

Taylor was found with $31,520 worth of methamphetamine in her possession.

She was identified as part of the Central District organised crime unit's Operation Stamp investigation into manufacture, sale and supply of methamphetamine in Wanganui.

A police search of her address on February 10, 2011, found a recently used methamphetamine pipe, a hairspray can containing 29.8g of methamphetamine in a bag, and a spray bottle containing a further 9.6g and a "tick list" of names and amounts in her handbag. A further $950 cash was found in her wallet.

The amount of methamphetamine found, 39.4g, was valued at $31,520.

Mr Crowley read a statement Taylor had made in which she said she knew methamphetamine wasn't good, but thought using it occasionally "wouldn't hurt", and that she used it to relieve stress "once in a while to get me through".

It was the classic methamphetamine story, heard many times in court, he said.

It was the depths of Taylor's addiction to the drug that led her from being a top student to where she was today, Mr Crowley said.

Her pre-sentence report showed she was still addicted.

"That's how pernicious and strong this addiction is, and she is honest enough to say that and to tell the report writer that she needs help."

Judge John Clapham said it might well be "intellectual arrogance" that led people to think that at any stage they could opt out of their addiction.

Taylor's pre-sentence report indicated that she had the ability to make a useful contribution to society once she was free.

Judge Clapham sentenced Taylor to three years, six months in jail for possession for supply of class A drug methamphetamine.

The $950 was forfeited under the Misuse of Drugs Act.