A WOMAN who was on bail for drugs charges came to Bendigo in breach of the Melbourne COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, a court has heard.
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Nicole Van Happen, formerly of Kangaroo Flat, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday where she pleaded guilty to charges including trafficking a drug of dependence.
The court heard on May 22 last year, police executed two search warrants at Van Happen's property on Regent Street in Kangaroo Flat.
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Officers found bags of cannabis, methamphetamine, $3880 in cash, electric scales, and three mobile phones.
The court heard there were messages on the mobiles relating to drug trafficking.
A credit card under a different name was also found at the property. Police also seized a taser and knuckle dusters, which were located in a grey safe.
In her police interview, Van Happen made no comment about the offending.
Van Happen was granted bail at the Bendigo Magistrates' Court in July last year. One of her conditions was to reside at a Melbourne address.
The court heard then on the evening of August 30 last year, police spotted Van Happen leaving a supermarket in Epsom.
CCTV footage confirmed it was Van Happen at the store, which was in contravention of her bail conditions.
Melbourne was also under stage four COVID-19 lockdown at the time of the offending, with residents not allowed to enter regional Victoria.
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Police went to Van Happen's Melbourne address at 7.10pm on September 9 as part of a routine check but she did not answer the door.
Officers returned to the address at 8.10pm but Van Happen again failed to come to the door.
There was also an 8pm curfew in Melbourne at the time, with residents required to not leave their homes.
Van Happen on Wednesday also pleaded guilty to a drug driving charge from November 24, 2019.
Defence lawyer Domenic Care said Van Happen had made positive changes since leaving Bendigo last year.
Mr Care said his client had stable accommodation in Melbourne and was working with support services.
He submitted a community corrections order would be an appropriate sentence.
Magistrate Megan Aumair said Van Happen's prior convictions were "not in (her) favour".
But Ms Aumair said she wanted Van Happen assessed to see if she was suitable for a corrections order.
Van Happen is due to return to the Bendigo Magistrates' Court later this month for a further plea and sentence. Her bail was extended to her next court date.
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