Former Care Director's Dark Past Revealed: Court Documents Expose Drug Problem and Gambling Habits

A former co-director of a company responsible for the care of a vulnerable disability support recipient has been recorded on a listening device admitting to a drug problem, court documents reveal.

Amy June Collins, the former co-director of Integrity Care SA (ICSA), is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a category one charge of reckless conduct, the most serious breach under the Work Health and Safety Act.

Collins's client, Ann Marie Smith, was confined to a cane chair 24 hours a day for a year leading up to her death in April 2020. An investigation found that Smith died from malnutrition, multiple organ failure, severe septic shock, and other complications related to her cerebral palsy while in full-time care.

Both Collins and co-director Alison Virgo were originally charged with criminal neglect, but only Collins pleaded guilty to the lesser charge in August.

In court documents, the prosecution stated that there was evidence Collins was using drugs between 2019 and 2020. "The defendant was recorded on a listening device situated in the dining room of her home stating she had a methylamphetamine problem 12 months prior and explaining that she was 'now all good' following an intervention," the documents showed.

The prosecution also stated that Virgo provided an interview confirming Collins predominantly consumed "ice". "Ms Virgo states that by the end of 2019, the defendant's drug usage was obvious to ICSA staff and Ms Virgo herself, due to her irregular behaviour," the document said.

A police search of Collins's property led to the discovery of five tabs of LSD and a substance confirmed to be cocaine and methylamphetamine.

The prosecution also revealed that Collins used the company's debit card for gambling purposes, with over $15,000 withdrawn from the company's account. "In total between August 2018 and Feb 2019 there were 164 debit card purchases made from the ICSA Westpac bank account to Direx Limited Cyprus — resulting in the withdrawal of approximately $15,306.46," the documents said.

During sentencing submissions, Collins's defence lawyer argued that there was no causal link between her drug use and gambling to her offending.

Collins felt 'guilty' in apology letter. In a written letter of apology, Collins told the judge that thinking of what happened to Smith "brought her to tears". "I feel horrible for what happened to Ann Marie Smith," the letter said. "I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be a nurse and help people … I would never knowingly hurt another person."

The prosecutor argued that Collins's apology letter did not acknowledge the extent to which her own conduct contributed to her failure to properly discharge her responsibilities as a director.

Collins will appear before the District Court next month for further sentencing submissions.