Drug abuse and deception landed a 39-year-old pregnant woman a 14-month prison sentence today.
Tina Connelly, who has a three-year-old son, pleaded guilty in Wellington District Court to a range of charges, including five of shoplifting, six of obtaining goods by deception and one of using a false document.
Defence lawyer Brett Crowley described her as a woman who struggled with drug addiction and was often used by other people.
He said security footage of Connelly stealing from a store showed she had made no attempt to disguise herself.
He told the court she had been given drugs on the day of the crime and was ordered by others to do it.
He said since being remanded in custody on July 7 she had been extremely honest about her drug use and had found prison a tremendously sobering experience.
She had also joined a bridge programme to deal with her addictions but this had been made difficult by an acquaintance who consistently visited her to encourage her to keep using drugs.
Mr Crowley recommended a sentence of home detention of six months so Connelly could build on her relationship with her son and continue to get help with her drug problems.
Judge Mike Radford said she had committed a full range of offences from theft, to assault and fraud spanning back to May 2006. He took into account her assault on a security guard in January 2007, her repeated breaches of bail, and her use of a false licence this year.
He said charges for all the offences totalled over $20,000 and her extensive history of dishonesty offences made her a threat to the community.
Judge Radford said through her long history of drug addiction, Connelly had been used and abused by others, and was a pawn in the hands of someone else.
He said to protect the public and to prevent others from using her, Connelly should go to jail for 14 months.
She was also ordered to continue to get help for her drug and alcohol problem.
