By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A SPRINGVALE South woman has been jailed for up to 18 months for multiple heroin-trafficking offences, including while on bail in July.
Diep Lam, 34, smiled at family members from the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court dock on Monday (7 September) as her lawyer recounted Lam’s drug-dependent teen and adult life.
She had been introduced to drugs at an early age by an older peer group at school, the lawyer said.
After a time “on track”, she relapsed into heroin abuse due to a sexual assault at work.
The lawyer said Lam left home as a 14 year old due to a “turbulent” relationship with her father and didn’t return until eight years later.
During her recent offending, she was using half-a-gram of ice a day.
Lam also needed ongoing counselling for “severe depression”.
When Lam breached bail in July, police found her with $1400 cash, a silver knife, 16 grams of heroin and 12.1 grams of ice in her car on Chandler Road, Noble Park.
She had been granted bail in June after being found with $4785 cash, 7.5 grams of heroin and 1.28 grams of ice outside a Clayton pokies venue.
Lam was on two community corrections orders for trafficking at the time.
One of those orders was handed down at the County Court.
The court was told Lam had breached community orders four times in the past 18 months.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen, who sentenced Lam to one of the community orders last year, said he was disappointed given Lam had good prospects for rehabilitation.
But he asked why he should give Lam another treatment option given her recent offending.
Mr Vandersteen noted Lam’s strong family support, particularly her mother who provided a $15,000 surety for Lam’s bail in June.
“The life you’re leading is very different to what the family wants you to lead.”
Lam was jailed for 18 months, with a six-month non-parole period.
Her 90 days in remand custody will count as time served.
