A 20-year-old who is accused of slashing a JB Hi-Fi store manager with a box cutter while attempting to steal from the store will spend at least another month in jail.
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Gabrielle Rowe appeared at Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday facing nine charges including theft, intentionally causing injury and breaching a community corrections order.
Rowe has already spent 260 days in custody since being arrested in March and will return to court in December for a plea hearing.
Police prosecutor Jamie Singh told the court Rowe entered JB Hi-Fi on Mair Street on February 23 and attempted to leave the store without paying for a bluetooth speaker she had placed in her bag.
He said the security guard called the store manager, closed the doors to the store and asked Rowe to empty her bag.
It is alleged Rowe attempted to push past the security guard before grabbing a box cutter from her handbag and slashing the store manager on his bicep, causing a 'large and deep' wound.
Mr Singh said Rowe then threw the speaker on the ground and ran off. The incident was captured on CCTV footage.
The court heard charges against Rowe also relate to six other alleged incidents, including causing criminal damage to a TAB, stealing Jim Beam from Dan Murphy, punching a woman and stealing her mobile phone at McDonalds Bakery Hill and stealing from Myer and Spotlight in Ballarat.
An application for Rowe's case to be heard in the Magistrates' Court rather than the County Court was granted on Tuesday.
Magistrate Gregory Robinson said he agreed the sentencing powers of the Magistrates' Court were sufficient for Rowe's case.
Ms Sharpley told the court Rowe had engaged in a number of programs and education since she entered custody in March.
The court also heard Rowe was on drugs during the time of offending but had been 'clean' during her time in custody.
Rowe's grandparents, father and stepmother were present to support her in court.
Ms Sharpley indicated to the court she would be seeking a sentence of imprisonment in combination with a community corrections order.
Rowe will be assessed for a community corrections order before she returns to the Ballarat Magistrates Court on December 19 for a plea hearing when the court will hear victim impact statements.
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