A mother of four and grandmother of two who burgled a Brown Hill home armed with a meat cleaver has 'very good if not excellent' prospects of rehabilitation, a defence lawyer has said.
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Georgina Lynch, 41, pleaded guilty at the County Court in Ballarat on Monday to aggravated burglary with a weapon and intentionally damaging property.
The two co-accused Luke Ross, 30 and Timothy Rodger, 29, also pleaded guilty last week to charges relating to the incident.
Defence barrister Angela Sharpley said Lynch had already spent almost 18 months in custody since the incident, before she was granted bail three months ago.
Ms Sharpley said Lynch had never been in custody before this and submitted the time served was 'enough'.
"The sooner she is out of the criminal justice system the better," she said.
Crown prosecutor Bruce Nibbs told the court Lynch and Rodger attended the victim's Brown Hill house in the early hours of July 2, 2018 and banged loudly on the front door.
The court heard when the victim did not answer the door Lynch and Rodger broke three windows, forced entry, slashed the walls of the hallway with a meat cleaver, went into the bedroom and living room and then left.
One of the victim's was inside the house at the time and then went into the backyard called his housemate.
The court heard the victims, Lynch and Rodgers had spoken via phone and text message the day before, relating to a dispute about $50 one of the victim's had lent to Lynch three weeks earlier.
The victims had attempted to contact Lynch to get the money back and then contacted her partner Rodger to ask if he could pay the money back.
Rodger then received a message from the victim saying 'time's up, see you soon'.
It is alleged friends heard Rodger say "I'll show him... he doesn't know my family... I'll kill him", referring to the victim.
The court heard the two co-accused and the two victims were associates Lynch would 'sometimes use drugs with'.
Ms Sharpley said it was conceded the offending was serious, but she asked Judge Paul Lacava note the context leading up to it.
Ms Sharpley said Lynch started using methamphetamine six months before the offending after she had experienced the break up of a long term relationship, incidents of family violence, homelessness and periods without seeing her children.
The court heard Lynch had completed employment, programs and education while in custody and had been a carer for her children, ill mother and grandchildren since she was released on bail.
"Her prospects of rehabilitation are very good, if not excellent," Ms Sharpley said.
"She has very good support in the community, is a carer for three young children, her grandchildren and her mum, which is a motivating factor for her to stay out of trouble.
"Her time in custody shows she is able to engage in treatment and she has been engaging in treatment since she was released from custody."
Lynch was supported by her mother in court.
Judge Lacava asked Lynch to be assessed for a community corrections order before she is sentenced on Monday.
"She managed to lead herself astray because she was on drugs and the company she was keeping," he said.
"What I am concerned about is she is protected from falling back into that situation."
Ross and Rodgers will also be sentenced on Monday.
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