A mother of six and repeat offender has been given another chance to become a good role model for her children as her latest victim agreed to engage in a restorative justice process with her after being left "always on watch" and "always scared".
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Kylie Ann Carpenter, 33, fronted the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to one count of burglary.
Documents tendered to the court state that in July 2019, the offender entered the victim's Franklin House where she stole a beauty-product box.
At the crime scene, a sliding door to the premises was left opened and metal mailbox was broken.
As well, the garage door was damaged, drawers and cupboards in various rooms were opened, the victim's Mitsubishi ASX was missing and a large number of jewellery and accessories were missing.
However, the damage to the garage door and the missing items are not said to be attributable to the offender.
At the time of the offending, Carpenter was serving a suspended jail term for aggravated robbery in which she and a co-offender stole clothes and knives from Fyshwick's Anaconda store in 2017.
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On Wednesday, Crown prosecutor David Swan read out the impact statement by the victim, who wrote that the offending compounded her struggles to adapt to living in Australia after relocating here only two years prior.
"After I got back home in Canberra, jet lagged and alone, I was speechless when walking through my home, which didn't feel like my home anymore," she said.
"My safe space was gone...always on watch, always scared that something would happen."
She had to cut short her overseas trip to see family and has not seen them since because of COVID.
"Thanks to you, I'm always on watch, always anxious. Thanks to you, I could not give my family the quality time they deserved," she said.
Despite telling Carpenter the impacts of the offending, the victim also said she hoped the offender receives the help she needed to "turn your life around".
The victim, who appeared via phone in court, reiterated this, saying "I hope that she sees this as an opportunity for self reflection and for growth and to get some help".
Carpenter was seen wiping away tears while Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson said the victim's words were wise.
"I wish both of you good luck in the restorative justice process and I truly believe this is a real opportunity and the court is grateful for the approach that has been adopted by both of you," Justice Loukas-Karlsson said.
She also told Carpenter it was important for her children "that you become the role model for them that you wish you had in your life".
The offender and the victim will meet on November 25 as part of the process before sentencing in February 2022.
Outside of court, Carpenter yelled at journalists to not take photos of her before re-entering the building to raise the issue with staff.
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