Custody loss triggered crime spree, Bendigo court hears
A Bendigo woman lost her children after a distracted-driving crash, then spent months committing burglaries, theft, and dangerous driving.
The mother was driving with young children on board when she turned to check on an infant, veering into a parked car. Police found methamphetamine in her system at the scene.
The children were unhurt, but she lost custody. Within months, she broke into a construction site, stole jewellery from a home where she worked, and helped rob a business of thousands of dollars.
In May 2026, she crashed on the Midland Highway while driving erratically. Witnesses found her unconscious in the ditch.
She regained consciousness, drove away at over 100 km/h, and was pulled over with bottles of liquid. She pleaded guilty to traffic, drug and theft offences.
Her lawyer told Bendigo Magistrates Court she had been working to rebuild her life through rehabilitation and counselling.
- $15,000
- Business theft total
- $8,235
- Amount recovered
- October 2025
- Crime spree start
- Over 100 km/h
- Highway crash speed
Why it mattersThe case shows how a single moment of distraction can trigger a cascade of loss and offending, and the role of family support in recovery.
AustraliaA reminder to Bendigo residents and parents about the risks of distracted driving with children in the car, and the availability of mental health and drug services for people in crisis.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 13 h ago
