‘Angry’ judge fires up

Rehab plan hits snag

A SUPREME Court judge has said the “wheels fell off” a plan he had to rehabilitate a woman with a history of anti-social behaviour, leaving him “caught on the run”.

Barbara Ann Kelty, 26, had previously pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Hobart to robbery, stealing and making off without payment.

The court heard Kelty stole a $5 pair of scissors from a department store, caught a taxi to New Town but did not pay the fare, stole $50 from the taxi and threatened the driver with the scissors.

Kelty was arrested and was remanded in custody until Monday, when Acting Justice Pierre Slicer granted her bail to take advantage of supported accommodation available to her through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The plan was for Kelty, who has an intellectual disability, to spend part of the week living with her family, then move into the supported accommodation.

Acting Justice Slicer said it would give Kelty a chance to take part in programs aimed to help her turn away from crime.

Yesterday, he said the accommodation option was no longer available, but another service provider would accept her for four weeks. At the end of the four weeks, it is expected Kelty will be able to move into the accommodation originally planned.

Acting Justice Slicer sentenced Kelty to three months’ jail, backdated to January, which covers the time she has already served, in relation to the stealing and making off without payment charges.

He bailed Kelty to reappear for sentencing on the robbery charge in November, but said the matter could be brought back before the court sooner if Kelty did not comply with certain conditions.

“I want this trolled,” he said.

“I don’t want to give her a suspended sentence because they don’t work. I want her to come back knowing that she’s got one go at this and if she doesn’t want it she’s going back to prison ... I’m trying to get enough time for it to work.”

Acting Justice Slicer described his orders as “a complicated construct”.

“Now you see why I’m angry because I constructed something and all the wheels fell off in the process,” he said. “I’ve been caught on the run.”

Acting Justice Slicer also said he regretted a probation screening report he had asked for had not been completed. process con-