Kalgoorlie-Boulder woman says six-month crime spree fuelled by meth and freedom from abuser

A Kalgoorlie-Boulder woman says her “disgusting” crime and assault spree was fuelled by meth and freedom from her abuser who treated her like a “caged animal”. The 22-year-old woman, who the Kalgoorlie Miner has chosen not to name, told Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court this week she had been in a violent relationship with a man 20 years her senior since she was 15. Through her lawyer Pamela Oram, the woman revealed being isolated in the violent relationship, unable to have friends and being told to look at the floor and no one else. “She said she felt like a dog on a chain,” Ms Oram said. Ms Oram said the woman’s freedom from the man when he was imprisoned led her to a six-month meth-fuelled rampage through Kalgoorlie-Boulder. “He got her on meth ... but when she got her freedom again, she took it to the next level and was using constantly. She couldn’t get off the drugs,” Ms Oram said. From January to July, the woman was “out of control” and racked up 16 offences — including common assaults, stealing and drug possession— most of which she was sentenced for on Thursday. On two separate occasions, after being confronted by staff for attempting to steal hundreds of dollars of goods the woman swore and spat in the faces of employees. On March 11, police pulled her over and asked her to leave the car. Instead, she pulled out a syringe with 1g of methamphetamine and attempted to inject it in her arm before officers stopped her. While the woman said she did not remember some of the offending, Ms Oram said she was “disgusted” with her behaviour. “She has fallen off the rails and lost everything,” Ms Oram said. “This is the first time she has stayed drug-free and she has a clear mind. She knows she needs help to remain drug-free.” Ms Oram asked magistrate Paul Lyons to impose a community based order with programs and supervision to give the woman the support she needed to stay clean. Mr Lyons said the woman was clearly “out of control” during the offending. However, he said she had a limited criminal record and had “been through a lot”. He fined her $1200 and placed her on a seven-month community based order with program and supervision requirement. He also placed her on a notice for a remaining charge of possession of a controlled or prescribed drug, which she will reappear for next month. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)