Australind woman Alice Laurel Marshall jailed for 18 months for possessing drugs with intent to sell

An Australind woman that self-medicated her poor mental health with methamphetamine has been jailed for intending to sell MDMA and cannabis to fund her addiction. Alice Laurel Marshall, 27, was sentenced to 18 months in prison last Thursday after pleading guilty to possessing MDMA and cannabis with intent to sell or supply in Perth District Court. Marshall was initially due to be sentenced in Bunbury District Court a fortnight ago but was later arrested on a bench warrant when she failed to appear. The court heard Marshall and her young son were sighted by police in a parked car at Australind Pioneer Cemetery on May 28 last year, following prior reports about alleged drug activity in the area. When police informed Marshall a search of the car would be conducted, Marshall admitted they would find MDMA. Police located 13 clip-seal bags which contained capsules and a white crystalline substance, which was later found to be a total of 17.83 grams of MDMA, as well as a set of electronic scales. A later search of Marshall’s Break O’Day Drive home uncovered various clip-seal bags containing a total of 36.85 grams of cannabis, as well as another set of digital scales and other drug paraphernalia. While state prosecutor George Brett submitted Marshall would have been slightly above a street-level drug dealer, Marshall’s lawyer James Brash told the court she had not been involved in the criminal justice system for 11 years. However, a combination of factors, including an incident with a neighbour and being a single mother studying full-time at university saw Marshall experience depression and anxiety. When she could no longer find assistance through Headspace, the court heard Marshall self-medicated with methamphetamine and the only way to fund the addiction was to sell drugs. Mr Brash also submitted Marshall had effectively given up on herself when she was interviewed for a psychological report, admitting to the report writer that she was affected by drugs and would intend on continue to use until her sentencing. However, a handwritten letter by Marshall showed her attitudes had since changed and intended on finishing her degree and finding work in addiction counselling, using her own life experience to assist. Marshall will be eligible for parole in December.