Perfume spree on nose

Mum apologises for stealing while on suspended sentence

A TEARFUL mum has apologised to a judge after going on a perfume-stealing spree while she was serving a suspended sentence for a previous stealing conviction.

Leonie Jane Clarke appeared in the dock of Darwin Local Court on Friday after pleading guilty to stealing a number of items, mainly bottles of perfume, from pharmacies around Darwin on seven separate occasions between July and November last year.

She was also busted stealing a crocodile skin belt from Crocosaurus Cove.

The court heard that on another occasion in November, Clarke was caught stealing a bottle of Ariana Grande perfume from Chemist Warehouse on Mitchell St and gave a fake name to the police officer who attended. The total cost of the stolen items was more than $1000.

Clarke’s lawyer Micah Kickett told the court on Friday that his client was struggling with drug addiction at the time and often traded the stolen items for drugs.

“At the time she was dependent on drugs, that’s where this criminal activity began,” Mr Kickett said.

“I’m asking for Your Honour to consider the fact that she does have that prospect for rehabilitation.”

Mr Kickett asked that his client be released from prison next week into residential rehabilitation.

Judge Alan Woodcock told the court that Clarke had recently been convicted of similar offending, and that she was serving the suspended sentence he granted her on the previous occasion when she went on her most recent stealing spree.

A tearful Clarke addressed Mr Woodcock directly from the dock, saying she feels “sick in the guts” about her offending.

“I know you gave me a chance before,” she said. “I didn’t realise how bad I was with the drugs.

“Me going into prison actually it helped me go back to myself and have a good think about what I’ve been doing.”

However, Mr Woodcock ruled that Clarke would have to serve more time in prison.

“I hear what you say, I accept you’re trying,” he said.

“But, the people you continue to steal from, they’ve got to be protected.

“There must be consequences for breaching suspended sentences for likely offending.”

Clarke will return to court next week to be sentenced.