Drug dealing Granny used Ice to help with household chores

Gillian Moffat’s defence lawyer said the 54-year-old, convicted of trafficking heroin earlier this month, would use the drug for pain relief and ice for energy around the house.

Moffat appeared at a County Court sitting in Ballarat to appeal a three-month jail term handed down at Ballarat Magistrates Court on February 3. 

Just over two grams of heroin, 0.61 grams of ice, almost $300 in cash and scales were found by police at Moffat’s home on July 17. 

Crown Prosecutor Tania Bolton said the heroin was found in the bathroom at the house, where Moffat cared for her seven-year-old autistic grandson.

Ms Bolton said Moffat had a significant history of drug charges, having served four previous prison sentences. 

“We accept that it’s a sad background, but since then she has continued to go along this (drug dealing) path,” she said.

The Crown submitted the accused’s sentence was not disproportionate to the offending.

Nola Karapanagiotidis, for Moffat, said her client, who had a serious car crash a number of years ago, sold drugs to sustain her drug addiction and had “very few clients”. 

“Doctor’s won’t prescribe her any medication because of her drug history,” said Ms Karapanagiotidis, who told the court a suspended sentence was available.

Judge Lance Pilgrim said there were disturbing circumstances surrounding Moffat’s offending. “She’s got daughters and grandchildren and she’s peddling this stuff – it doesn’t read well at all,” he said. “Heroin is bad enough, but that ice.” 

Judge Pilgrim said it was clear Moffat was opioid dependent and that he would defer sentencing to August 24 to see how the accused was dealing with her addiction.

Moffat’s bail was extended.