Drug dealer Vanessa Mountstephen avoids jail again after breaching suspended sentence bond

A meth dealer provided fake urine in drug tests and kept using while pregnant. But she’s been given yet another chance to stay out of jail.

A meth dealer has been told she’s on the precipice of going to jail after she provided fake urine to a drug test and kept using while pregnant, a court heard.

Vanessa Mountstephen, 36, was given yet another chance to prove herself and be drug free for her new baby, which the court heard tested positive to amphetamines at birth.

Judge Rauf Soulio sentenced Mountstephen for drug trafficking in June last year to two years and four months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and three months.

The sentence was suspended on an 18-month good behaviour bond.

Police stopped and searched Mountstephen on March 26, 2020 at Murray Bridge.

Vanessa Mountstephen breached her suspended sentence bond after being convicted of drug trafficking. Photo: Instagram

Vanessa Mountstephen kept using drugs after dodging jail last year. Photo: Instagram

They found 7.84g of meth, valued at up to $3900, with Facebook messages revealing Mountstephen had previously been selling drugs.

During sentencing submissions, the court heard Mountstephen was selling to support her own methamphetamine addiction, with the arrest being a wakeup call to her.

Jane Abbey SC, for Mountstephen, told the court her client’s life spiralled after her mother’s health crisis and an unhealthy relationship with her ex-husband.

“And her mother, of all people, offered methamphetamine as a coping strategy,” Ms Abbey said.

Despite prosecution pushing for a jail term, Judge Soulio was persuaded to give Mountstephen a chance to continue rehabilitation and imposed drug testing, supervision and psychological treatment conditions.

On Wednesday, the District Court heard Mountstephen breached the suspended sentence bond multiple times by returning positive drugs tests.

The court heard only six weeks after making promises to refrain from using drugs, Mountstephen returned a positive urine test for methamphetamine.

On September 15, she provided a sample which was not human urine.

“Those tasked with supervising you suspected you had substituted a substance to avoid being detected continuing to use drugs,” Judge Emily Telfer said.

The court heard Vanessa Mountstephen provided fake urine in drug tests and kept using while pregnant. Photo: Instagram

The court heard Mountstephen returned positive drugs tests at least once a month between September and February – with some tests consisting of a variety of drugs.

“Since you were sentenced by this court you have not returned one single sample that has not revealed the use of illicit drugs,” Judge Telfer said.

“You have been consistently dishonest about your continuing drug use, you have denied the use of illicit drugs only to justify your use once you were found out.”

The court heard Mountstephen, of Murray Bridge East, gave birth to a baby in March, which was removed from her care.

“That baby tested positive to amphetamine like substances at birth because you had continued to use drugs in your pregnancy,” Judge Telfer said.

Judge Telfer said people were trying to help Mountstephen but she needed to help herself.

“Ms Mountstephen, if you do not change something in your life the stakes are higher than they have ever been before,” Judge Telfer said.

“You are standing on the precipice of losing your baby and going to jail.”

Judge Telfer said while Mountstephen’s breaches were persistent she was not without hope.

Due to Mountstephen’s stable housing and family support, Judge Telfer said she was prepared to excuse the breaches and extended the bond by a further 10 months.