2LT Local News

Young Bathurst mother escapes prison despite massive Ice distribution

Sep 2, 2019

BATHURST, Central West, NSW, Australia – A 22-year old Bathurst woman who with her partner sold what was described as a massive amount of drugs on the streets of the New South Wales Central West, appeared in Bathurst Local Court on Monday.

Erin Clayton, the mother of a two-year old girl, and her partner Aidan Hartnett, 24, according to court documents tendered on Monday, sold 1,505 grams of Ice, worth more than half-a-million dollars between September 2017 and March last year when they were arrested.

Having pleaded guilty to knowingly participating in a criminal group, Clayton faced a prison sentence of between two and 10 years.

The magistrate on Monday said Clayton and her partner had been living a double life, a model family with a young daughter trying to make their way in the world.

On the other side of that they were running a large-scale Ice distribution syndicate.

While appearing young and oblivious, you knew “precisely” what you were doing, Magistrate Cate Follent said.

“It appears you were involved in the offences due to financial gain and the prospect of financial gain,” she said.

“You portrayed yourself as young and oblivious, but that assertion is certainly not reflected in the fact sheet it seems that you precisely knew what you were doing.”

Despite the scale of the crime, Clayton was spared time in prison. She was however given a 10-month intensive corrections order.

In an article in The Daily Telegraph, penned by Derrick Krusche, it was said the couple thought they had evaded authorities for months however detectives were monitoring their every move and raided their West Bathurst home in March last year.

“I was put in the back of the police vehicle it’s a memory that I will never forget,” Clayton said in an affidavit tendered to the court.

“I was in custody for about 12 hours before being released I made a promise that I would never break the law or be in custody again.”

“Although my mother is helping as much as possible, I remember the disappointment I saw in her face when I saw her for the first time after being charged,” the affidavit said.

Clayton’s partner Aiden Hartnett has pleaded guilty to large commercial drug supply and is being held without bail awaiting sentencing, according to the ‘Telegraph report.

In the affidavit Clayton says she is now ashamed.

“Aidan has remained in custody since being charged and this has meant that he has told me stories of people in custody who have had their lives ruined as a result of their addictions to drugs,” she said.

“I have learnt that drugs ruin families and communities, I am ashamed that I have played a role in this and every day I am disappointed in myself that I have had any part or contributed in any way to the supply of drugs.”

In court on Monday, defence lawyer Ahmed Dib requested a non-custodial sentence, saying Clayton deeply regretted her actions and had suffered the consequences in a country town, The Daily Telegraph report said.

“The community has taken a stance against Ms Clayton, essentially a community where Ms Clayton was raised and has lived her entire life,” he said.

“She is somebody who recognises her position in the community and somebody who’s trying to make amends for it.”