Desiree Francis Gibson, wife of GMAS teacher Hamish Gibson, sentenced for drugs charges in Margaret River

The wife of a South West school teacher charged with possessing an item used to manufacture illicit drugs has faced court on an unrelated cannabis charge on the same day as her husband. Desiree Francis Gibson wiped away tears during an appearance in Margaret River Magistrates Court today where she pleaded guilty to four drug charges, including cultivating a prohibited plant. The woman is the wife of Hamish Gibson, an award-winning high school teacher at Georgiana Molloy Anglican School in Busselton, who was charged following an investigation into drug-laced lollipops that police feared were being distributed among school children. On August 9, police raided the couple’s home on The Greenway in Margaret River, where the couple were charged with drug possession. Police found pots of cannabis plants growing in the house, as well as 6.8 grams of cannabis seedlings, a wooden smoking implement and a grinder which held two grams of cannabis. Police also found 750 grams of Cannabis plant cuttings stored in the shed in the backyard of their Margaret River home. Defence Lawyer Aaron Plenderleith said the plants were in an “unsophisticated” growing condition and Mrs Gibson expected a large number of the plants to die. Mr Plenderleith also said the 750 grams of cannabis plant found in the shed was “all leaf and stem” kept for the intention to “use as compost”. The court heard Mrs Gibson had been using Cannabis personally since she was 15 years old, but is on the path to deal with her addiction, and hasn’t touched the drug in more than three weeks. Magistrate Michelle Pontifex said that, due to this being her first offence and the representation of her good character, it would be “most appropriate” to assist Mrs Gibson to deal with her drug addiction. She was served a six-month supervised community-based order where she must attend drug-related programs. Mr Gibson sat alongside his wife in court for his first appearance on two charges of hindering police and a drug-related charge. Mr Plenderleith, who also represented Mr Gibson, told the court the matter was not ready to proceed because of the ongoing police investigation. Mr Gibson’s matter was adjourned to November 1, where he was released on amended bail conditions.