Zoe Hertz guilty in Moorabbin Court over explosives and drugs charges after a police warrant uncovered fireworks at her Brighton home
A Brighton woman caught with fireworks in a police raid meant for her housemate has told a court she “didn’t know they were illegal”.
South East
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A Brighton woman has claimed she “didn’t realise fireworks were illegal” after a police raid meant for her housemate exposed her hidden explosives.
Zoe Hertz, 28, pleaded guilty in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on March 13 to one charge of knowingly possessing an unauthorised explosive, one charge of failing an oral fluid test and one charge of possessing methamphetamines.
The court heard two police taskforces raided her inner southeastern home on January 18 on a matter relating to her housemate at the time.
In the search, officers discovered three fireworks in Hertz’s bedroom, alongside a zip-lock bag later found to contain methamphetamines.
Hertz told police she “didn’t realise the fireworks were illegal”.
“They were for New Years Eve,” she said.
Hertz made full admissions to possessing both the fireworks and baggie of meth.
The court heard Hertz had also been in trouble with police in 2023, when she was pulled over by cops in Dingley Village on April 25 and failed an oral fluid test, testing positive for methamphetamines.
In court on Wednesday, Hertz said she had been making efforts to stay sober and provided a clean urine test as evidence.
The court heard she had previously struggled with drug use since losing her job during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hertz was fined $500 without conviction and had her licence disqualified for 12 months.
