Ice mum who stole from friend jailed

AN ice-addicted mum stole a friend’s engagement ring and phone, which contained priceless photographs and voice recordings of the victim’s deceased father.

Samantha Elizabeth Ward, 29, racked up 38 offences in nine months fuelled by her addiction.

The court heard Ward had been a trusted visitor at an acquaintance’s house on February 25 this year when she burgled the property.

Police prosecutor Tim Madsen said that Ward stole a set of car keys, an engagement ring, a set of earrings, a necklace, a debit card and a mobile phone.

The mobile phone contained priceless photographs and voice recordings of the victim’s deceased father and the engagement ring had belonged to her mother.

A large portion of the property was recovered by the police, but not the mobile phone or engagement ring.

The court heard Ward went on a fraudulent shopping spree with a co-accused and spent $1017 in 15 transactions on food, gift cards, clothing and sunglasses on February 25.

Mr Madsen said Ward was unlawfully at large at the time of the burglary and shopping spree for failing to appear on February 21.

Ward also assaulted two police officers on May 21 last year while trying to defend her friend from being arrested.

On June 14, police found Ward in possession of 0.2g of methamphetamines and she was caught drug driving on July 16, returning a positive result for methamphetamines.

Ward was pulled over by police on November 24 and was found to have 0.65g of methamphetamines and other items associated with drug use in her possession.

Defence lawyer Merinda Greenwood told the court her client had enjoyed a solid employment history until she started using ice in a relationship.

Ms Greenwood said Ward’s drug use was heightened when she lost contact with her young son.

Ward pleaded guilty to 38 offences, including 15 counts of fraud, one count of enter dwelling and commit indictable offence and two counts of possessing a dangerous drug.

Magistrate Steven Mosch told Ward the burglary was a “betrayal of trust”.

He added that it would have been an “emotional trauma” for the victim to lose her mobile phone and the engagement ring.

Mr Mosch sentenced Ward to 15 months’ jail with a parole eligibility date set at July 28.