Samantha Vickery, 32, of Henry Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court in late December to two charges of trafficking crystal methamphetamine, among a host of offences.

At the time magistrate John Lesser remanded Vickery in jail until yesterday’s sentencing hearing, when he jailed her for three months. However, Vickery had already served 91 days in custody and was immediately released.

She now has to undertake an 18-month community corrections order with conditions she completes 160 hours’ community work and has assessment and treatment for drugs and mental health issues.

Mr Lesser said Vickery had not been in court previously for drug offences and her dealing was at a  low level.

However, he said she was found with drugs three times and there was evidence of drug trafficking between August and October last year, when she had a drug habit.

Warrnambool police’s Operation Virtuous had targeted Vickery’s ice trafficking. 

A search at her home on August 25 found $2625 cash in her handbag, deal bags containing ice residue, five sets of scales, 500 deal bags and multiple mobile phones.

After being arrested, Vickery asked police to be allowed to make arrangements for her children, but instead of using one of her phones she hit the factory reset button, which wiped out any potential drug trafficking evidence.

Vickery was released on bail but just five days later was intercepted by police in her blue Holden Commodore, police finding $1440 in her wallet and various evidence of drug trafficking. 

Vickery was again released on bail but was pulled over by police at 8.30pm on October 31 in Fitzroy Road and officers found two grams of ice in her handbags and more drugs at her home.