A Ballarat mother who hired a car, but failed to return it will face sentencing next year.
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The Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday heard a $15,000 car was found abandoned and damaged in forest area almost a month after it was due to be returned to a Ballarat car hire business in June.
The court heard the car’s bumpers were missing, the roof appeared to have been jumped on, exterior panels were damaged and a number of interior parts were also missing when it was found in Invermay on July 12.
Mother-of-four, Cindy Dean, pleaded guilty to three charges including the theft of the car.
She initially told police she had returned the car after hours, placing the keys under the office door.
But police determined there was not enough room under the door for the keys to fit.
On Tuesday the court heard a friend had asked to borrow the car and promised to return it, but never did.
The court also heard Dean lied to police when she was pulled over in May, giving an incorrect name in fear she would be remanded on outstanding warrants.
Dean’s offending also breached two community corrections orders (CCO).
Despite this, her lawyer Mike Wardell submitted to court consideration for a further CCO was appropriate.
He told the court Dean had genuinely changed since the offence in July, embarking on a journey to ensure the welfare of her new child could flourish.
Mr Wardell added she now knows she should have told corrections about the pregnancy, rather than ignoring it and focusing solely on her new family.
He added Dean was not using drugs anymore
“I understand it is a big ask, but in light of material it seems she is a different person,” he said.
But magistrate Mary Robertson disagreed another CCO was appropriate.
“I find this all incredibly concerning,” she said.
“You can’t keep breaking the law and coming up with excuses. These are not victim-less crimes.”
Ms Robertson adjourned sentencing for four months to determine whether Dean was serious about changing her ways.
In the meantime she suspended Dean from driving for three months.
“If you continue what you’re doing I will impose a fine, if not (and commit other offences) it will be a different story,” she said.
Dean will return to court on February 16 for sentencing.
