Stella Farrell, 32, pleaded guilty to drug-driving in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie Thomson said Farrell tested positive to methamphetamines after being stopped by police on Lancefield-Tooborac Rd at Tooborac on April 3.
After failing a drug test, Farrell told police at the time that she “didn’t know” she had drugs in her system, Sen Constable Thomson said.
The court heard she also had a prior offence of drug driving in 2023.
Farrell’s defence solicitor Albert Suttor said his client was not sure how there were methamphetamines in her system that day.
He said Farrell had been prescribed medicinal cannabis for arthritis and had smoked before the incident.
Mr Suttor said Farrell believed the bag with the cannabis may have contained traces of methamphetamines; however, magistrate Amina Bhai said she “did not accept” her version of events.
Mr Suttor also said Farrell had stopped using drugs in 2024 except for medicinal cannabis; however, Ms Bhai also questioned this.
“This might be (your) first time in court … but this is not the first time you failed a test,” Ms Bhai said.
Mr Suttor asked that no conviction be recorded as it would impact a TAFE course she was completing.
Farrell was fined $750, disqualified from driving for 12 months and no conviction was recorded.
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