Toni Hayes, 34, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court to possession of methamphetamine, possession of a schedule four poison, driving an unregistered vehicle, and committing an indictable offence on bail.

The court heard Hayes was released on bail on December 19 under the Court Integrated Services Program, a program that helps accused people access support services, and was also on another count of bail at the time of her offending.

On December 27, police saw Hayes’ vehicle stopped at the intersection of Creeth Street and Eaglehawk Road in Long Gully, before pulling it over in Havilah Road.

The court heard Hayes appeared agitated and nervous.

As she was also in an area of ‘high drug activity’, police searched her car, and found digital scales, 17 empty ziplock bags, a cylinder container and a ziplock bag with a crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine, and almost empty ziplock bags containing what police believed was methamphetamine residue.

Police also found a tablet, and two other tablet halves.

Hayes’ car was unregistered.

Duty lawyer Jacob Mildren told the court Hayes said the items were in her car from prior to her being taken into custody on a previous occasion.

She instructed she had not used drugs since she was released on bail, he said.

Mr Mildren noted that magistrate Sarah Leighfield had acknowledged Hayes had done very well previously on the Court Integrated Services Program.

He submitted a community corrections order was appropriate.

Magistrate Megan Aumair instead convicted and fined Hayes, stressing the seriousness of the charges.

“I hope you are drug-free, and remain drug-free, and work very hard on the CISP program,” Ms Aumair said.

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