A judge’s wide knowledge of Christchurch offenders went on show at a district court sentencing in Court 19.
For months, Judge Jane Farish has been working to give Leana Korau, also known as Wylie, a chance at a future.
Supports have been put in place in a series of appearances for the 29-year-old woman who has admitted charges of fraud and several of shoplifting committed while she grappled with a methamphetamine addiction.
But the time came for her sentencing, and she was the third case to be called in the session.
Defence counsel Karen Feltham said Korau was proud that she had not been shoplifting while awaiting sentence, because it was “a huge temptation”.
Korau was apologetic for her “alcohol-related lapses” on remand.
She explained that Korau was not back with the group she had been with before, when she admitted scamming elderly victims out of thousands.
But Judge Farish had been watching the comings and goings at the back of the courtroom.
What, she wanted to know, was Korau doing sitting with Miss R–, who had been another co-offender?
Not one of her own co-offenders, Korau explained.
Yes, but a co-offender with a relative of Korau’s. And not only that, but it was only a month since Miss R– had been released from custody when she was sentenced.
Judge Farish was monitoring her progress, too, and she was not doing particularly well. She would be getting a letter soon telling her she must come to see the judge to talk about her situation.
In August, 28-year-old Miss R– was released on a year’s intensive supervision after a year in custody on remand. She had admitted 13 charges of dishonestly using a document and shoplifting.
Judge Farish did not bar Korau from seeing her, but she said: “If you are going to associate with Miss R–, do it on the basis that you are supporting each other to remain offence-free, and not to get up to mischief.”
Judge Farish said that during her remand, Korau had gone to an Auckland programme that was able to take her into supported living for mothers with children. Such programmes are not available in Christchurch.
That placement in Auckland came to an end, but not because of any offending or drug taking by Korau. She came back to Christchurch where she did reasonably well, but slipped up because of an alcohol infringement and was now stood down from a residential treatment programme.
There was now a chance she could go back into a programme.
So, Judge Farish sentenced her to 18 months of intensive supervision living at an approved address with an assessment to be made for admittance to the rehabilitation programme.
She will have to pay back $5500, her one-quarter share of the reparation to the latest $22,000 scam victim, and $800 reparations on the shoplifting charges. The money will be paid from Korau’s benefit and the little she makes from some part time work caring for a family member.
There will be random drug screening tests during the sentence, and if there is any reoffending Judge Farish made it clear there would be a term of imprisonment.
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