Fiona Patison, 41, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to cultivating, possessing and using cannabis, possessing methamphetamine, failing to answer bail and driving whilst suspended.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Mick Aitken said at 8.15am on November 21 police executed a search warrant due to suspicions that Patison was trafficking methamphetamine and cannabis.

Police found Patison and her two children at the home. Police found 15 cannabis plants and two zip lock bags of cannabis seeds.

Leading Senior Constable Aitken said on April 22 at 4.30am police in Ararat saw Patison and a passenger in her vehicle at Barkly Street.

Police searched the vehicle and found a small yellow container with a zip lock bag containing a brown coloured substance.

Police also found an ice pipe and a crystal like substance. When interviewed by police Patison said she understood her licence was suspended and she’d smoked a joint before she left her home. Leading Senior Constable Aitken said Patison told police she had used cannabis to relax and take the edge off and her reason for driving was to help a mate.

Patison’s defense counsel told the court his client’s life had fallen apart after her 20-year relationship with her partner ended.

He said since then she had turned to drug use and associated with people she shouldn’t have. Magistrate Cynthia Toose said Patison had motivation to rehabilitate to continue to see her children, but the change had to come from her.