A Kambah woman who stole an ACT government ute while its driver cleaned nearby public toilets had a cask of wine beside her upon her arrest, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police caught Catherine Howsan, 39, as she drove along the Federal Highway in Watson in January, having been tailed by a second Territory and Municipal Services staff member after she took the vehicle from Kambah Village about 1pm.
The ACT Supreme Court on Thursday heard Howsan admitted to police that the ute was stolen and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.053.
Howsan appeared before Chief Justice Helen Murrell for sentence having pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery, car theft, drink drive, and weapon possession.
The court heard Howsan – who suffers from suffered mental health issues - had been arrested days earlier after threatening police with a knife.
She was released on January 21, only to rob a Kambah service station at 4.40am the next day.
The court heard Howsan initially asked a staff member for cigarettes on credit, only to produce a knife when the request was refused.
She was given two packs of cigarettes and left.
Later that afternoon, she spoke to the TAMS employee – who said she appeared to be affected by drugs or alcohol – before stealing his work ute as he cleaned the public toilets.
Upon her arrest, she said she had intended to drive to her parents' home on the south coast.
She was charged and granted bail.
She was given two packets and left with the alcohol and cigarettes.
Police were called and went to her home where she admitted to the heist.
She has been in custody since and was made subject to psychiatric treatment order in March.
The court heard Howsan had a long history of substance abuse.
She suffers from schizophrenia and depression, and was psychotic at the time of the offences.
Chief Justice Murrell found her to be criminally responsible for her actions, but said her moral culpability had been reduced by her illness.
The judge said Howsan had good prospects of rehabilitation.
She sentenced the defendant to two years jail, backdated to take into account time spent in custody.
Howsan will be eligible for release when an appropriate treatment option becomes available.
The matter will return to court next month.
