Hari Potara, 48, ​of Hexham-Ballangeich, Ellerslie, ​pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to​ possessing and use cannabis, driving while suspended, driving an unregistered car, using false number plates, committing an offence on bail and two charges each of failing to answer bail and possessing and use ice.

She was fined $1000 and placed on a 12-month CCO with conditions she do 50 hours of community work and undertake drug treatment and rehabilitation.

Defence counsel Jack Rabl said his client had never been in trouble before but had experienced the worst 12 months of her life.

Her 22-year relationship had ended, she turned to drugs, lost her driver's licence, was now unemployed and living in emergency accommodation with her son.

Magistrate Cynthia Toose said it was time Potara did something about her drug use.

Police said that at 9.30am on April 1 Potara was intercepted driving a maroon Ford with South Australia number plates which should have been attached to a Holden Commodore.

When Potara opened her driver's window, officers could smell cannabis and they found she was a suspended driver. 

In her handbag was half a gram of ice and 25g of cannabis.

She told police she had used ice before driving and her licence had been suspended after she failed a previous drug test. 

The car was also unregistered. 

After failing to appear in court on bail, police intercepted Potara on July 4 when she was seated in the passenger seat of a car.

A search found .44g of ice in her handbag.