Meth dealer Sarah Hayes refused bail after being arrested on warrant

She was arrested after a high-speed chase in a stolen car in which her 10-year-old child was also a passenger.

A meth dealing single mother living a “disorganised and chaotic lifestyle” will spend Christmas behind bars after being arrested in a high-speed pursuit.

Sarah Jane Hayes, 42, failed in her bid to be released from custody after she was refused another chance to show she can rehabilitate.

Sarah Hayes pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking. Photo: Facebook

David Moen, for Hayes, asked the District Court this week to give his client one last chance to show she can comply with bail and to be sympathetic considering the season.

Jessica Houlahan, for the prosecution, told the court they were opposed to bail, as an immediate jail term was the appropriate penalty for the offending and Hayes had failed to attend counselling and supervision.

The court heard Hayes was arrested on a warrant after a police chase with a car she was a passenger in, although she wasn’t charged with any offences.

“Police observed the defendant with her 10-year-old daughter leaving the rear passenger seat of a stolen vehicle that rammed a police vehicle before engaging in a high speed pursuit,” Ms Houlahan said.

Ms Houlahan said Hayes had had ample opportunity to engage with the programs and show that she was doing everything she could to rehabilitate.

Judge Paul Muscat issued a warrant for Hayes’ arrest in September after she failed to show up to court.

He said he did not believe that Hayes, who according to her defence counsel, was in hospital getting X-rays for a fractured elbow.

Hayes, of Valley View, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking, arising from incidents in January and March 2019.

During previous sentencing submissions, Judge Muscat said Hayes’ excuses for being late or missing court “just goes on and on” and it was “most unacceptable”.

“You have a shocking history of turning up late or not turning up at all,” he said.

Judge Muscat said reports showed Hayes was leading a “disorganised and chaotic lifestyle”.

“Ms Hayes, you’re a bee’s whisker away of being sent to prison for a long time,” he said. “You’ve got to do better than you have.

“If you want to avoid going to jail, you’ve got to do the right thing otherwise your daughter will not have you for four or five years.

“How would you feel about that?”

Judge Muscat refused Hayes bail and adjourned her charges until next month.

Originally published as Meth dealer Sarah Hayes refused bail after being arrested on warrant