How a doctor’s life spiralled out of control when she became addicted to drugs before she was busted in a hotel room with ice, meth and ecstasy
- The mum-of-one was introduced to drugs as a student by her violent boyfriend
- She started using again after a serious eye condition left her temporarily blind
- The pathologist was busted with more than $50,000 worth of illicit substances
A drug-addicted pathologist has narrowly avoided jail time after being busted with more than $50,000 worth of illicit substances.
Rebecca Jane Ianniello, 34, was introduced to the drug ice by her violent boyfriend while a medical student in Brisbane, but she graduated and undertook a career in pathology.
Rebecca Jane Ianniello (pictured), 34, was introduced to the drug ice by her violent boyfriend while a medical student in Brisbane, but she graduated and undertook a career in pathology.
Things took a turn when she developed an eye condition that blinded her for more than a year and put her career on hold.
During this time, she became depressed and turned to methamphetamine.
Her life spiralled out of control after she became addicted and she lost her career.
She was busted by police in a Brisbane CBD hotel room in November 2017 with a vial of 1,4-Butanediol, more than four grams of ice, 15 tablets containing a combination of meth and ecstasy and $50,820.
Ms Ianniello has a drug-related criminal history dating back to 2016, which included drug driving, two convictions of possessing marijuana and one of possessing more than 20 grams of meth.
She was on bail when caught in the hotel.
Her lawyer argued against jail because she needed to continue her rehabilitation program.
‘She had very positive prospects in a career in medicine,’ defence barrister Carl Martinovic said.
‘Her spiral and decline into addiction … was one which crippled her.
‘That addiction was extremely powerful.
‘(It) caused her to lose her opportunity to continue practising in medicine.’
Things took a turn when Ms Ianniello (pictured) developed an eye condition that blinded her for more than a year and put her career on hold. Justice Bradley told Brisbane Supreme Court that in other circumstances, a jail term of 2.5 years would be appropriate for the kind of offences Ms Ianniello committed, but granted her immediate parole because of her ‘particular situation’
The court heard Ms Ianniello had not returned a positive drug test since being granted parole in 2018 after a prior conviction.
Justice Thomas Bradley handed her a two-year jail sentence but granted immediate parole on Friday, ordering she undertake counselling.
‘You are obviously a very intelligent person,’ Justice Bradley said.
‘It’s my hope that with your level of intelligence you will take … an understanding of what needs to be done between now and the rest of your life.’
Ms Ianniello pleaded guilty to four drugs charges, including possession of dangerous drugs in commercial quantities.
Ms Ianniello was busted by police in a Brisbane CBD hotel room in November 2017 with a vial of 1,4-Butanediol, more than four grams of ice, 15 tablets containing a combination of meth and ecstasy and $50,820 (stock image)
The Courier Mail reported the single mum was granted leniency because of her four-month-old daughter.
Justice Bradley told Brisbane Supreme Court that in other circumstances, a jail term of 2.5 years would be appropriate for the kind of offences Ms Ianniello committed, but granted her immediate parole because of her ‘particular situation.’
‘Part of the role of the sentencing today is to make a plan to get your life back on track and make the orders that will hopefully help your rehabilitation,’ he said.
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