A MOTHER of three who began trafficking the drug ice to support her family has been jailed for four months.
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Rebecca Fuge, 30, of no fixed address, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Wednesday on a string of charges including stealing three cars, breaching bail and trafficking methamphetamine.
Police prosecutor Paul Harris said Fuge was first intercepted by police on the Moorooduc Highway on February 20 where she gave a fake name to police while driving unlicensed.
On April 20 she failed to appear in the Frankston Magistrates Court.
On June 12 she was given bail in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on the condition that she remain in Bendigo, but did not do so. Later on June 18, she and her partner attended Bendigo Police Station to report on bail conditions.
Soon after that they went next door to a car yard where CCTV showed them inspecting several cars. It’s then alleged her partner stole a set of keys to a vehicle.
“The accused went back to the car yard with the keys,” Senior Constable Harris said.
On April 27 Fuge stole another car at a house party in Langwarrin, near Frankston.
On a following occasion Fuge, who was drug-affected, and her partner stole a vibrator from a Warrnambool sex store.
The court heard Fuge admitted her drug trafficking in the Frankston area to police to make a fresh start.
Defence counsel Alice Reynolds said her client had two children aged two and 14 who were living with the accused’s sister and a nine-year-old son living with his father.
“She started dealing ice because she had hit rock bottom. Ms Fuge’s dealings were on the lower end. She instructs that she did not actively seek out clients. She wanted to have money for rent and food for her children,” Ms Reynolds said.
“This was not a sophisticated operation. She could see that she was spiralling out of control. She told police because she wanted a fresh start.”
Magistrate Ron Saines noted Fuge’s admissions but said her offending was lengthy and serious.
“This is a long list of serious offences,” Mr Saines said, adding her actions were part of a “serious social problem pulling at the heart of our community”.
Fuge was also sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and had her licence cancelled for 12 months.
