Naughty Melbourne mums: Caitlin Nielsen, Stacey Burton, Tara Egglestone and Jessica Pollard
Most mums are good role models to their kids except these Victorian mothers whose crimes landed them in the naughty corner.
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These naughty Victorian mums needed to fit in court appearances among school pick-ups and hanging with their kids.
Some of these mums whose crimes ranged from drug dealing and fraud to extortion and social media blackmail even landed themselves in the slammer.
See the full list:
‘GOOD MOTHER’ GHB DEALER
A Southbank mum who peddled a dangerous party drug linked to overdoses claimed she only does GHB every second weekend.
Caitlin Nielsen, 25, pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this month to two charges of trafficking GHB.
Nielsen’s racket went kaput after police spotted the mum handing an envelope to a DiDi driver outside her Southbank apartment block on October 15, 2020.
Police tailed and intercepted the DiDi driver a short distance away, where they seized the envelope which contained deadly rave drug GHB.
The DiDi driver had undertaken a parcel delivery job and was not linked to the drug racket.
Investigators tracked Nielsen back to her apartment where she was arrested on October 18.
Police seized GHB analog 1,4 butanediol concealed in two bottles.
Nielsen was hauled away for questioning.
The mum told police she only used GHB when she didn’t have her son.
“Well, when I don’t have my child,” Nielsen told police.
“They told me if you just deal drugs it can make you really good money, or like attempt to.”
Tony Hannebery, for Nielsen, told the court his client was a “good mother” who enjoyed a solid career in the car sales industry prior to suffering an injury in a motor accident.
Nielsen will be sentenced at a later date.
SANDBAGGER MUM
A Clyde North mum concocted a cash-for-sand scam while working at peninsula quarry owned by an Australian motor racing identity.
Jessica Pollard was sentenced in the County Court in November to a 12-month jail term after pleading guilty to course of conduct theft and falsifying an account record charges.
Pollard, formerly known as Jessica Richardson-Ward, was a weighbridge attendant at Skye Sands quarry when she stole $415,600 between February 2011 and April 2015.
The court was told Pollard, without authority, sold sand at heavily discounted prices for cash to two customers then pocketed the cash for herself.
Some of the dodgy transactions were transferred directly to Pollard’s bank account, the court was told.
The fraudster issued bogus receipts to the customers who were unaware Pollard did not have authority to sell sand at discounted prices.
Pollard, who began working at the Harold Rd quarry in 2010, thieved more than $400,000 but the total loss to Skye Sands Pty Ltd was $812,000.
Skye Sands director Walter ‘Rusty’ French uncovered the lengthy racket when a customer asked him directly if the discounted sand deal could continue.
Mr French, an Australian motor racing identity, hauled Pollard in for questioning then commenced civil proceedings against his scoundrel ex-employee.
Pollard, who was arrested in late-2018, told police she organised the cheap cash rates passed onto unsuspecting customers.
Pollard, a mother of two who told the court she now works as a direct care worker, was also handed a two-year community correction order.
BIKIE REVENGE MUM
A vigilante mother schemed with a brutal bikie crew to enact a violent revenge plot after her nude pics were leaked on Facebook.
Tara Egglestone was sentenced in the County Court in December to time served – 295 days – after pleading guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit burglary.
Egglestone, now of Bendigo, plotted with late former Finks national president Brent ‘BJ’ Reker to storm her ex-boyfriend’s Hampton Park home.
The revenge plot materialised after a fake Facebook account purporting to be Egglestone was created.
The court heard semi-naked photos of Egglestone were posted to the bogus Facebook account.
Egglestone, a mother of two, suspected her ex-boyfriend was responsible for the online nude scandal, and feeling upset and humiliated enlisted Reker to run through the home.
Egglestone communicated with Reker via Facebook, SMS and phone and gave the now deceased bikie her ex-boyfriend’s name.
Reker and patched bikies Pierce Williams, Nathan Martinow and Corey Wanakore-Moeke smashed their way into the victim’s home, beating his face with a tyre lever as he lay in bed with his girlfriend on September 9, 2018.
During the onslaught, one of them yelled: “Let’s just blow his kneecaps out and kill the girl”.
The victim’s face was beaten so badly he had to go to hospital, the court was told.
His girlfriend was also punched in the face, the court heard.
The court heard Reker told the victim’s dad he was “lucky he was there” or we “would’ve killed your son”.
Reker called Egglestone during the ordeal and asked her what to do with a victim.
Reker also threatened he and his former bikie mates would return to “get what you owe us” and “we’ll take your bikes to”.
A bikie thug also threatened the victim not to go to the cops or they will “kill your missus and your kids”.
Egglestone, who was told by Reker to “keep quiet”, was arrested at her former southeast home not long after police launched their investigation.
Egglestone, who also pleaded guilty to intentionally cause injury, was also handed a two-year community correction order.
HIP HOP CANNABIS MUM
An aspiring pop singer avoided a conviction after she was nabbed growing cannabis at the Maidstone home she shares with her three children.
Jesica Bustamante was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last July to a 12-month adjourned undertaking after pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis.
Police raided Bustamante’s Eucalyptus Drive home and seized cannabis and sophisticated growing equipment including heat lamps on December 17 last year.
Investigators discovered multiple plant pots and harvested cannabis hanging from drying racks and aided with a ventilation system.
Police also seized loose cannabis, a flick knife, piping, plant stakes, watering utensils and bottles of hydroponic nutrient.
Bustamante was arrested, charged and interviewed by police.
“(I) was bored over lockdown and saw it on Netflix so wanted to try and see if I could do it (grow cannabis),” Bustamante told investigators.
Bustamante said she ordered the ‘White Rhino’ and ‘Cookie Scout (Girl Scout Cookies)’ cannabis seeds online.
“Got lights and everything from hydro set up … watered them everyday and kept them under light … researched when to know when they’re ready,” Bustamante told police.
The court was told Bustamante, under the stage name Jess Makaveli, is a rising Melbourne pop star currently working on her debut album.
Bustamante, a former exotic dancer, was signed by label Cosmic Bounce Records and recently released a single ‘Que Pasa’ with accompanying music video.
The mother of three, who grew up in Sunshine, worked as a beauty therapist and now runs her own online flower business.
Magistrate Jelena Popovic lashed Bustamante for being a poor role model to her children.
“Well they aren’t stupid are they can see what goes on around the house,” Magistrate Popovic said.
“I‘m not sure you took these proceedings very seriously or understood the ramifications of what could happen to the future that you’re planning for yourself …
“When you’re thinking about planning the future for yourself the important thing is what you’re planning for those three kids.”
MUM’S FAMILY HOME DRUG RACKET
A Healesville mum was nabbed trafficking meth and a deadly drug linked to mass rave overdoses.
Monica Kellalea fronted the County Court in November after pleading guilty to trafficking meth and pentylone.
Kellalea’s drug racket came unstuck after police raided the Healesville home she shared with her children on April 7 last year.
Police seized almost 250g of meth, cannabis, GHB, prescription drugs and 50 pentylone tablets which the court heard was essentially “ecstasy”.
However, the deadly drug has been linked to mass overdoses due to its potency after users mistakenly believe they are taking less potent ecstasy.
Police also seized $2000 cash, digital scales, a vacuum sealer, two mobile phones and 100g of an alleged drug cutting agent at the Lowes Rd property.
The court heard Kellalea approached investigators at the raid with information after she realised her goose was cooked.
“I’m stuffed,” Kellalea told an investigator.
“I’m looking after something for someone which is going to get me into a lot of trouble.”
Kellalea then led police to a purple suitcase in a wardrobe which contained the bulk of the meth.
Judge John Smallwood ordered Kellalea, who has no priors, be assessed for a community correction order.
SOCIAL MEDIA NUDES REVENGE MUM
A scorned Ballarat lover posted a nude pic of her ex-boyfriend’s new flame on social media after attempting to extort $5200.
Stacey Burton was sentenced in the County Court last June to a three-year community correction order after pleading guilty to making an unwarranted demand with menaces and intentionally distribute an intimate image of another.
Burton, from Wendouree, targeted her former partner Codie Carter’s new girlfriend while in a fit of jealous rage in March 2019.
She threatened to post an intimate photo of her love rival — which depicted the victim’s breasts — on social media if she was not paid a $5200 ransom.
Burton sent the image to Carter’s mobile phone and messaged her victim via Facebook to show she meant business.
“Give me my money back that Codie owes me …,” Burton said.
“(Or else) everyone will see more than your ugly f***in head online.”
Burton claimed Mr Carter had originally forwarded the image to her, the court was told.
The victim, a young woman, did not comply with Burton’s demands.
Burton later posted the lewd image and tagged her victim on Snapchat in October 2019.
The court was told Burton removed her post after only 30 minutes.
However, the photo was seen by and screenshotted by several Snapchat users before it was taken down, the court heard.
“(The offending) probably makes (the victim) feel like shit,” Burton told investigators.
The victim had earlier taken out a personal safety intervention order on her aggressor but it barely stopped Burton.
Burton, a mother of two who has a child to Mr Carter, brewed-up a fresh bee in her bonnet towards her victim in late-2020.
Burton sent the victim a barrage of abusive messages — including 35 in a single day — via Instagram and Facebook Messenger.
Burton sent the victim a photo of herself and Mr Carter with a message which said “I’m a mutt”.
Burton sent a later image which said “congratulations you win”.
Burton’s lawyer submitted the crimes were the actions of an “immature” 22-year-old woman in the context of a “love-triangle”.
“(The offending) is indicative of her immature world view,” the defence submitted.
Judge Mark Gamble said Burton’s premeditated actions were clearly designed to cause the victim hurt and shame.
“This instance of blackmail was nasty, cruel and vindictive,” the Judge said.
Burton was sentenced with conviction.
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