Lynn-Kerri Mullins, 44 - formerly of Hamley Street, South Bathurst and now of Orange - appeared before magistrate Catherine Follent in Bathurst Local Court charged with supplying a prohibited drug (less than commercial quantity).

Police facts tendered to the court said officers were patrolling Hamley Street on April 15 this year and the accused's car was sitting in driveway with the reverse lights on. Police recognised the car as being spotted at several known drug locations around Bathurst in recent times.

A short time later Mullins was stopped by police at the top of Hamley Street and they requested her licence.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

"I don't have it on me," she said. "I left my wallet on the roof the other day and it fell off. I'm waiting for a replacement."

A roadside breath test produced a negative result before police said they were going to search the car.

Inside a black handbag they found a white jewellery box containing a number of small red capsules.

Mullins said she found them in the pocket of a jacket she brought from a charity shop two weeks earlier and was on her way to a pharmacist to ask what they were.

Investigations by forensic police revealed the tablets were MDMA. Police did not believe the capsules were for personal use as they had been individually packed.

Have you joined our new Western Advocate Courts and Crime Facebook group?

Mullins' solicitor told the court his client had pleaded guilty back in July. She had struggled with substance misuse for 25 years but now had support in place to limit reoffending in the future.

The solicitor said Mullins was seeing a counsellor and attends support programs, and had some insight into the underlying issues which had contributed to her drug use.

In sentencing, Ms Follent said Mullins' crime was at the lower end of the range for offences of its type and also noted she had taken steps to address her addiction.

Mullins was convicted and placed on a two-year community corrections order.