Meth-dealing single Adelaide mother Sarah Hayes jailed for three years

A drug-dealing mother who went “off the rails” once she was given more freedom on bail is behind bars after a judge continually slammed her chaotic lifestyle.

A meth-dealing single mother who was given multiple chances to reform is behind bars after court orders “fell on deaf ears”.

Sarah Hayes, 42, ignored the opportunities to stay out of jail and “went off the rails” once she was given more freedom on bail.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Hayes’ car was searched by police at Wingfield after she was acting suspiciously on January 12, 2019.

Police found a large sum of cash in her purse, over 14g of methamphetamine in her handbag, tick lists and multiple mobile phones.

Hayes was then stopped again by police at Kensington on March 14, 2019 and they found over 3g of methamphetamine in her handbag.

Sarah Hayes was jailed for over three years for drug trafficking. Photo: Facebook

Police searched Hayes’ home and found more methamphetamine, tick lists and scales.

Hayes, of Valley View, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking.

“You have claimed that the offences were committed by you to support your addiction to methamphetamine and to repay significant debts that you incurred to your drug dealers,” Judge Paul Muscat said.

Judge Muscat said as soon as Hayes’ home detention bail conditions were removed in 2020 things “went off the rails”.

The court heard Hayes continually offended while on bail, including returning positive drug tests, drug driving and driving dangerously to escape a police pursuit.

Judge Muscat issued a warrant for Hayes’ arrest in September last year after she failed to show up to court, saying her excuses “just go on and on” and reports showed Hayes was leading a “disorganised and chaotic lifestyle”.

“Plainly, what I said to you and what you were told to do by your Community Corrections Officer, fell on deaf ears,” he said.

“Indeed, you have been given more chances than many to demonstrate your commitment to reform.

“Your failure to do so reflects adversely on your prospects of rehabilitation and reveals that you remain at risk of offending in some way.”

However, Judge Muscat said Hayes appeared highly motivated to improve her life for her young daughter.

He sentenced Hayes to three years and three months in jail, with a non-parole period of one year and six months.

“Methamphetamine use traps and then heaps misery on its users and their families and friends, as you would well know,” Judge Muscat said.

The sentence was backdated to August 11.

Originally published as Meth-dealing single Adelaide mother Sarah Hayes jailed for three years