A Warrnambool woman who breached bail after being caught with drugs and syringes has been given one last chance at a community corrections order.
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Sarah Godwin, 30, of Crawley Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to drug and driving-related offences.
Lawyer Belinda Northey said her client’s life had spiralled out of control after her relationship with her four children broke down in 2017. She said Godwin was addicted to ice and suffered mental health problems.
Magistrate Franz Holzer said if Godwin continued her drug use she would continue to come back before the courts.
He placed her on a 12-month community corrections order with conditions she do drug treatment and testing as well as offending behaviour programs.
On October 16, Godwin was intercepted by police driving on Warrnambool’s Hopetoun Road. Checks revealed the car was unregistered and her driver’s licence was suspended on medical grounds.
The following day police found Godwin seated in the passenger seat of a red Holden Commodore parked near a Warrnambool river about 2.30am. The vehicle smelt strongly of marijuana and a bong was sitting at her feet. A search of the vehicle located a a small amount of cannabis as well as syringes and a quantity of ice hidden inside a torch in Godwin’s handbag.
She told police the car had broken down and her friend had asked her to wait with the vehicle while he went to get jumper leads.
Godwin was arrested and bailed to appear in court in February. Conditions of her bail included an overnight curfew.
Then on January 15, Godwin was found in the car of another drug user when police officers intercepted a vehicle in Raglan Parade at 1.45am. She told police she was on her way to the hospital but then refused medical assistance.
At the time of the offending, Godwin was on a community corrections order after she stole a patient’s mobile phone at a hospital.
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