Gail Slywka, 32, of Junortoun, almost leapt from the custody box yesterday when she heard she would be able to return home and see her children.

It was Slywka’s second time in court since her arrest last month as a result of drug raids in and around Bendigo.

Her bid to be released back into the community began last week, with the prosecution arguing Slywka, who has been charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of ecstasy and amphetamines, would be an unacceptable risk of reoffending.

The court heard Slywka allegedly helped traffic more than $250,000 worth of drugs into the local community along with her partner Trevor Arthur, who was also arrested and remains in police custody.

Yesterday, defence lawyer Melainie Vinton argued exceptional circumstances, including the amount of time - at least 12 to 14 months - Slywka would spend in custody before the case goes to trial.

“She has two children at home who rely solely on their mother,” Ms Vinton said.

Ms Vinton also called on Slywka’s sister Rhonda Whitehead of Kangaroo Flat, who has been taking care of Slywka’s two children as well as Arthur’s son since the couple were arrested.

Ms Whitehead under oath made an emotional plea to the court asking for her sister to be released.

“If she is not granted bail it is highly unlikely I could keep five children (she also has two children of her own) in my home . . . they will be separated by DHS,” she said.

“I just want these children to grow up with their mother in a secure life together.”

Ms Whitehead said she would report Slywka to police if she reoffended or broke her conditions of bail.

“I know for sure, I know she will not break those conditions.”

Magistrate Peter Couzens said although there appeared to be a reasonably strong case against Slywka in terms of trafficking, the prosecution’s case relied heavily on telephone intercepts that would take some time to be analysed, therefore pushing the trail date back to well over a year, which he said was an “inordinate amount of time”.

Mr Couzens granted Slywka bail with strict conditions, including having no association or communication with the co-accused - including Arthur - and not stepping foot in a licensed venue anywhere in Australia.

Slywka will appear in the Bendigo Magistrates Court on January 20 for a committal mention hearing.