Tattooed stripper turned drug smuggler will walk free from jail next month after appeal to have her sentence increased failed
- Former Sydney stripper Alexandra Rose Kobelke, 26, avoided further jail time
- Kobelke was sentenced to two years jail for smuggling cocaine and ice
- Sentence was appealed as ‘inadequate’ but was rejected by the court
A former stripper from Sydney who smuggled large quantities of ice and cocaine on flights into Hobart, often using a fake name, has dodged extra jail time.
Alexandra Rose Kobelke, 26, was in November sentenced to two years and eight months’ behind bars for her role as a ‘worker’ in the drug trafficking operation.
She flew 13 times between Sydney and Hobart over a 13-month period from December 2017, bringing thousands of dollars back to her home state.
Former Sydney stripper Alexandra Rose Kobelke, 26, (pictured) has avoided further jail time after an appeal on her two tear sentence for smuggling large quantities of ice and cocaine
Tasmania’s Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) launched an appeal against her sentence, arguing it was manifestly inadequate.
The appeal was dismissed by the Court of Criminal Appeal in Hobart on Thursday.
The three-judge panel agreed with the DPP that Kobelke’s sentence was manifestly inadequate, agreeing a five-year jail sentence was more appropriate.
But they dismissed the appeal on discretion, noting Kobelke’s relatively young age, lack of previous criminal convictions and potential imminent release.
Kobelke’s non-parole period of 16 months, backdated to March 2019, expires on July 5.
Acting Justice Brian Martin said Kobelke’s role as a ‘worker’ in the drug ring should not be glossed over as she knew she was involved in a large-scale operation and had a critical role.
He added, however, Kobelke’s original sentence was not a gross departure from an appropriate range.
Kobelke was arrested in January last year at Sydney airport carrying ice worth $40,000 and about $16,000 of cocaine, plus ecstasy.
She had smuggled drugs using cryovac vacuum packages to hide their smell and on nine occasions bought plane tickets under false names to fly into Hobart.
Tasmania’s Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) launched an appeal against Kobelke’s (pictured) sentence, arguing it was manifestly inadequate, the appeal was rejected