A BENDIGO drug trafficker who has breached court orders "time and time again" has been told she will have one more chance at a community corrections order.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sharni Bryant, 28, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday where she pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking and possessing a drug of dependence.
Bryant was one of five people charged following a raid on an East Bendigo property on April 14.
Read more court: Bendigo cannabis grower avoids conviction
In the living room of the property, police found found a ziplock bag containing three grams of a green vegetable matter believed to be cannabis, a ziplock bag containing one gram of a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine, and an old herb jar containing a clear liquid believed to be GHB.
Officers searched the rest of the property and found items including seven used and operational digital scales, a box of 100 individual syringes, $1156.90 in cash, a metal tin with drugs including LSD and ecstasy, and more substances believed to be cannabis and methamphetamine.
Police also seized two mobile phones, one of which belonged to Bryant, and a digital safe.
The court heard Bryant refused to provide her phone's passcode to police.
Bryant was arrested and taken to the Bendigo Police Station for questioning.
The 28-year-old told officers she was using the cash found at the property to pay for her unregistered car and vet bills.
Read more court:
Bryant also told police she used the syringes to administer medicine to her dog
Defence lawyer Robert Southgate told the court Bryant wanted to "turn her life around" and had an "appetite for rehabilitation".
Mr Southgate acknowledged community corrections orders have not stopped Bryant from reoffending in the past, but he said that should not stop the court from giving her another chance.
Magistrate Sharon McRae noted Bryant had breached several corrections orders since 2015, with most of the breaches coming from further drug trafficking charges.
"She has a track record of not complying with community corrections orders," Ms McRae said. "She has been given the opportunity time and time again.
"She's asking me to put her trust in her but she's gone back and done the same thing."
Mr Southgate implored the magistrate to consider a corrections order.
"A starting point could be having her assessed for a community corrections order to see if there is a real appetite for change," he said.
"She's still young and she knows she needs to change."
Ms McRae said it was a question on whether the court should "throw away the key" to Bryant and not give her another chance at treatment.
The magistrate said given the trafficking charge was at the "lower end" of the scale, she would give Bryant a community corrections order after a significant period in jail.
Bryant was remanded in custody so she could undergo the corrections assessment. She is due to return to the Bendigo Magistrates' Court next week for sentencing.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News