It started with one or two capsules of MDMA.
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Over a series of meetings organised by text message, Emma Di Bitonto, 25, sold a man a capsule or two at each meeting.
At a later meeting, he bought 12, and at another 17.
The amount sold was escalating, the court heard, and it was fair to say that had she not been caught, it would have continued.
On Monday, the science and psychology student was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended, after pleading guilty to trafficking MDMA and possessing MDMA and cocaine.
It meant she walked free from court, but the sentence hung "over her head", with consequences if she were to commit another crime.
Justice Richard Refshauge said she was a small time user-dealer, not motivated by profits but to fund her own addiction to cocaine.
Several times over about two months last year, Di Bitonto met a man after he contacted her by text message to sell him drugs.
It started with one or two capsules of MDMA for $30 each and at a couple of meetings it escalated to more than 10 capsules.
Altogether, she made about $1000 cash.
The man buying drugs was not named, and not prosecuted.
Her selling came undone when police searched her car, after following her as she left home one night. In her purse officers found two clip seal bags with small amounts of MDMA and cocaine.
She did not push drugs on the community, but was sought out, Justice Refshauge said. She had consistently expressed remorse.
The court heard she worked part time as a nanny and in aged care, while she studied science and psychology full time at university.
Her suspended sentence came with conditions. She must be supervised by corrective services, and continue her counselling.
The court heard Di Bitonto suffered physical and mental health issues, the former causing 40 admissions to hospital over 15 years.
"The difficulties that you face are problematic, and it would be inhuman to not have empathy and feel some sympathy for you in these circumstances," Justice Refshauge said.
"But if you're going to achieve your potential, and you've obviously got great potential, to be a successful member of the community, then you need to manage those issues, and professionals can help.
"To quote a former prime minister, life wasn't meant to be easy.
"Continue to try and address these challenges ... I'm sure you can put this behind you."
