Jennifer Bisset faces court for drug trafficking and aggravated burglary

A mum who couldn’t cope with her seriously ill son’s cancer diagnosis fled to Melbourne where she lost herself in its seedy drug-riddled underbelly, a court has heard.

Jennifer Bisset, 38, fled New Zealand after both her father and her young son were diagnosed with cancer, a court has heard. Picture: John Gass

A mum who ditched her critically ill son in New Zealand and fled overseas to Melbourne found herself embroiled in the city’s drug scene, a court has heard.

Jennifer Bisset, 38, pleaded guilty at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to a raft of charges including drug possession and trafficking, aggravated burglary and handling stolen goods.

Sergeant Barry O’Neill told the court Bisset was arrested on June 30 at a CBD apartment where she and an associate had been living unlawfully.

In the months leading up to her arrest, Bisset had been charged by police for drug possession in Melbourne’s CBD, had been caught at a clandestine meth lab at a home in Beaconsfield and breaking into letterboxes in Blackburn.

She also broke into a man’s apartment where she and an associate stole car keys and his bank cards, Sgt O’Neill told the court.

Bisset’s lawyer told the court his client moved to Australia after both her father and her son, now aged 11, were diagnosed with cancer.

Her father had since died and Bisset’s son, who had leukaemia, was in remission but still battling to recover his health, he told the court.

“Ms Bisset struggled to deal with what was a life-altering moment,” he told the court.

“It was a difficult situation for anyone, and this is coupled with drug use for almost all of her adult life.”

He asked the court to consider releasing his client, who had served 23 days’ presentence detention, on a community corrections order so she could receive drug counselling.

But Magistrate Michael Wighton said the sheer volume of offending and the seriousness warranted a jail term.

“I would agree there is a very clear need for Ms Bisset to be assisted with drug addiction,” Mr Wighton said.

“Given the large volume of offending, especially the aggravated burglary, the sentence needs to reflect the serious nature of the charges.”

Bisset was sentenced to four months’ jail and will be assessed for her suitability to complete a community corrections order.

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