THE mum of a drug addict left languishing in Wagga’s court cells for almost two weeks has spoken of her daughter’s descent into “ice hell”.
Karen Pollard recounted her daughter’s dramatic transformation from ordinary teenager to alleged ice dealer, swept up in the wave of drug arrests in Wagga last month.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was this week revealed to have been locked up in Wagga’s ageing court cells for 12 days, denied access to a host of services and facilities because of a chronic prison bed shortage.
Mrs Pollard described the conditions as “deplorable”.
“There were no showers and had she been placed in a jail, she would at least been allowed to make a phone call to her family,” Mrs Pollard said.
“She hasn’t even been able to organise her own rehab.”
She has since been transferred to a temporary holding facility in Albury.
Choking back tears, Mrs Pollard said it was heart-wrenching to watch her daughter, who has two young children, being held captive by the drug ice.
“I know she’s done the wrong thing but I also know my daughter, or at least I knew her until this damn drug got a hold of her,” Mrs Pollard said.
“One year ago, she couldn't have done enough for her babies and friends.
“She suffered depression and got in with the wrong crowd and she thought these scumbags were her friends and would stand by her. “All they did was get her hooked so she would sell for them, enabling her to feed her habit.
“Along the way she lost the ability to think, feel, care.”
She praised police for targeting dealers of the drug and said her daughter deserved to be punished.
“But she deserves to be treated as a human being in the process,” Mrs Pollard said. “She is all of 30kg and this needs to be treated as a health issue. My heart is broken and my life tipped upside down. But I will not give up on her.”
The successful Coolamon business owner warned the drug was indiscriminate. “We are a good family … this drug can affect anyone,” she said
