A Milton woman on the run from police tried to avoid arrest by saying she was having her period, before throwing a sunglasses case containing methamphetamine over a fence.
Lania Jahde Rakete, 41, began criminal offending "quite late in life", the Dunedin District Court heard last month.
"This is because of her drug issues, and I have no doubt that is the truth," counsel Andy Belcher said.
Rakete received a final warning from Judge John Walker when she was sentenced to intensive supervision after burgling two homes in 2020.
"You may recall Ms Rakete, the judge said if you are not complying, he has the ability to bring you back to court and you should expect to be looking at imprisonment," Judge Jim Large said.
Rakete did not heed the advice, later burgling an Invercargill home and being found with methamphetamine on her arrest.
On December 1, 2021, Rakete unlawfully entered a home in Centre St, Invercargill, crawling through a dog door.
She took $13,000 of property, including cosmetics, jewellery and clothing.
When police conducted a search of Rakete’s home, they found $50 of the stolen goods.
Rakete denied her role in the burglary, claiming she had found the washing basket full of goods on the side of the road.
Two months later, after failing to appear in the Invercargill District Court, police arrested Rakete at an Invercargill address.
Refusing to follow police instructions, Rakete said, "I need to go to the toilet. I’m on my period".
When the officers told her she could use the restroom at the police station, the woman took a sunglasses case from her pocket and threw it over a nearby fence.
Inside the case police found methamphetamine (0.59g) and a glass pipe.
Mr Belcher said Rakete’s non-compliance was due to her father’s recent cancer diagnosis, leading her to make contact with him and effectively remain on the run.
"She is looking down the barrel of quite a hefty prison sentence. There doesn’t seem to be any way around that," Mr Belcher said.
"In the interest of getting her out of the system, I’m asking you to keep it to a short term of imprisonment."
Judge Large said it was "too little, too late".
"At some point doesn’t there have to be a reckoning?"
Along with the dishonesty and drug charges, the woman was convicted of aggravated disqualified driving, resisting police and failing to attend court.
Rakete was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for a further 12 months.
"You are the author of your own misfortune," the judge said.
— Erin Cox, PIJF court reporter
