Tess Rowlatt, a 36-year-old woman described as a "middle-class" party girl, was granted bail on Tuesday despite having pleaded guilty to trafficking significant quantities of methamphetamine and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Judge Duncan Allen approved Rowlatt's bail at a suitable address, allowing her to leave the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and move into a $200-a-night hotel in Melbourne. Rowlatt, who has a history of drug offenses, was granted bail to a "self-contained suite" that is being privately funded.
As Rowlatt exited the County Court, she directly addressed a freelance reporter from the Daily Mail, expressing dissatisfaction with the outlet's coverage of her case and women in general. She briefly reviewed a photograph of herself leaving court, remarking, "That's dreadful," before departing in an SUV.
Rowlatt's bail conditions include not consuming or possessing illicit drugs, undertaking judicial monitoring, drug rehabilitation, and mental health treatment. She is also subject to an 11 a.m. to 7 a.m. curfew at her hotel. Her supporters, including her influencer sister Victoria Rowlatt and boyfriend Timmy O'Dwyer, were present at the hearing.
During the bail hearing, Crown prosecutor Matt Cookson argued against granting bail, citing Rowlatt's relapse while on a community correction order for previous offenses. Cookson recommended an immediate jail sentence with a parole period to protect the community. However, Judge Allen stated that Rowlatt deserved another chance, emphasizing that "the road to rehabilitation is not linear."
Rowlatt's most recent arrest occurred on August 16 of the previous year when police observed her fleeing a vehicle registered to an individual with a firearm prohibition order and motorcycle gang affiliations. Officers pursued Rowlatt on foot and apprehended her with over 100 grams of methamphetamine in her handbag, along with 1,4-butanediol, $750 in cash, and bank cards belonging to others.
This incident follows a prior conviction where Rowlatt operated a drug racket from 16 Melbourne Airbnbs between July and October 2021. She was arrested at her apartment on Spencer Street and initially faced numerous charges, including trafficking commercial quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and bute. She served just over a year in jail for that offense.
Rowlatt, who graduated from Monash University and previously held sales roles in marketing firms, has a 17-year history of drug abuse. Despite her past, Corrections Victoria had assessed her as a low risk of reoffending. A support worker who saw Rowlatt weekly in custody noted she seemed more serious about rehabilitation than ever before, describing her as "quite middle-class."
Rowlatt is scheduled to appear in court again in December.