Jessica Weatherall: Phillip Island mum pleads guilty to speeding, possessing, trafficking drugs

A Cape Woolamai mum, who lost her husband in a car crash, was caught dangerously speeding on a Phillip Island road.

Jessica Weatherall pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates' Court.

A Cape Woolamai mum, who lost her husband in a car crash and mum to suicide, was busted hooning dangerously above the speed limit in Phillip Island.

Jessica Weatherall, 27, pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates Court on April 28 to charges including possessing a drug of dependence, speeding, possessing a prohibited weapon, driving without P-plates and trafficking methamphetamine.

The court heard Weatherall was busted by police driving above the 60km/h limit at 140km/h on Church St, Cowes at 3am on January 1, 2021.

There was one passenger in the front seat and the woman’s P-plates were not displayed.

When police searched Weatherall’s car, they found a ziplock bag containing methamphetamine, knuckle dusters and a knife.

In a police interview, Weatherall made admissions to possessing the knuckle dusters and knife saying, “A girl can’t be too careful”.

The court heard police previously searched Weatherall’s house and found a flick knife, taser, four hunting knives, five watches and four ziplock bags with one containing a small amount of ice on September 22.

In a police interview, Weatherall was asked about a phone call she had with an old school friend Joshua Savage that happened on August 1, 2020.

The court heard Savage phoned Weatherall looking to buy ice.

Weatherall discussed costs and agreed to attend Savage’s house in Cowes with the drugs.

Weatherall’s lawyer Jarred Hofman said the mother-of-three was born and raised in Moe.

Mr Hofman said Weatherall was a “vulnerable person” since birth.

“Her early childhood was characterised through series of developmental traumas,” he said.

“For a long period of her life she had no positive adult role models.”

Mr Hofman said the former trade assistant was exposed to drug abuse, alcohol abuse, abandonment and tragedy.

He said her mother died by suicide when Weatherall was at school.

Mr Hofman said after her husband died in a car crash in 2019, Weatherall’s drug use “escalated significantly”.

Magistrate Gregory McNamara said the courts and the community were “always concerned” about people taking methamphetamine.

“It’s such a dangerous drug,” Mr McNamara said.

Mr McNamara said Weatherall seemed like an “intelligent person”.

“Given her really tragic background, I think in all the circumstances, she has done remarkably well not to get involved in offending before,” he said.

“I think the community should give her as much encouragement.”

Weatherall’s hearing was deferred until August 18 at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court.

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