First offender’s ‘mini-rampage’
A 22-year-old woman went on what the judge called a “mini-rampage” after being introduced to methamphetamine.
The offending which spread across the North and South Islands came to a sudden end when she showed she had a sawn-off rifle during a civil dispute over ownership of car.
That led to Taylor Ellen Newbery’s immediate arrest in Christchurch after the incident in Heathcote on March 19.
She then spent 66 days in custody before she was released on electronically monitored bail to live with her father in Wellington.
Defence counsel Allister Davis said the move north had helped because it got her away from the Christchurch group that had led her into trouble.
She had been given methamphetamine by a man – who was named in court – and thought it meant he cared for her. She was told that because she was a first offender she would only get a “slap on the hand” if she was caught.
As she told police when the crime spree came to an end, “I just took dumb decisions.” Mr Davis told Judge Michael Crosbie at Newbery’s Christchurch District Court sentencing: “That probably sums it all up.”
Newbery had pleaded guilty to the charges of unlawful possession of ammunition and a pistol – a cut-down semi-automatic .22 rifle – as well as a series of petrol and LPG drive-off thefts, shoplifting, stealing money online from an ex-partner’s bank account, possession of a pipe for smoking methamphetamine, and causing loss by deception.
The offending occurred in Lower Hutt, Havelock North, Picton, and Christchurch.
The firearm offences happened while she was on bail. She confronted five people who had arrived to take possession of a car parked on the roadside in Station Road, Heathcote.
She unzipped a handbag she was carrying and showed it to the group so that they could see that it contained a cut-down semi-automatic .22 rifle. The rifle was loaded with a magazine containing six live rounds.
She said to the group, “I’ll do it.”
Police were called and when they searched the car they found a pipe for smoking methamphetamine.
Judge Crosbie said she had been introduced to methamphetamine by a man. The drug was a “scourge” that had brought many young people before the court, and the relationship had done her no good at all. The petrol drive-offs were not minor offences, because there was too much of it, and it affected business’ profits.
He noted that her remand in custody had been a salutary lesson after her “mini rampage”.
He imposed six months of home detention in Wellington, but said that could be reviewed after three months if she had not breached the sentence. It could then be replaced with the less restrictive sentence of community detention, supervision, and community work.
He ordered her to pay more than $1500 back to her victims, and to undertake treatment and counselling as required.
While he struggled through the pile of charges and reparation orders, Judge Crosbie told her: “Next time you have a spree, Miss Newbery, can you make it a smaller one?”
Mr Davis replied: “I think I can assure you, there won’t be a next time.”
Category: News
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