Booze thief harasses Ballarat store assistant multiple times

The woman responsible, Jacinta Lee Kennett, stole alcohol from the victim's workplace last year and returned multiple times to harass the victim for making a statement to police.

Kennett, 29, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment at the online Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday for stalking the worker and a list of other offending.

Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Simon Pearce said Kennett stole alcohol from the central Ballarat Liquorland store and harrased the store's employee multiple times between September 4 and October 9 for making a statement to police.

He said on one occasion, the mother-of-two attended the Liquorland store, approached the counter and pointed her finger in the victim's face and called her a dog.

On another occasion Kennett grabbed the victim, who was standing outside the store using her phone, and tried to get her behind the counter. She again yelled at the victim for making the statement.

Acting Sergeant Pearce said Kennett refused to leave the store and police were called. Kennett eventually left.

He said when police arrived, the victim was shaken, upset and crying.

Kennett was arrested shortly after the final Liquorland incident at her Ballarat East address.

The court was told Kennett was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment, followed by a 12-month community corrections order, in February.

However, the County Court reduced her prison sentence on appeal and she was released into the community on the community corrections order.

While on the court order, Kennett stole a vehicle and took $30 worth of personal protective equipment from the Ballarat Taxi Service Station earlier this month.

On July 12, Kennett was driving in the Mount Clear area when she failed to stop after police activated their lights.

Acting Sergeant Pearce said she stopped driving immediately after turning into Hocking Avenue, got out of the car, put her hands in the air and jumped up and down. She had collided with a gutter and was unable to drive the car.

The court was told Kennett was taken to hospital for an assessment and she later made a no comment interview to police.

Acting Sergeant Pearce said police searched the car Kennett was driving and located a machete and knuckledusters.

At one point during Wednesday's plea hearing, Kennett interupted to tell the court she did not feel well because she was withdrawing and it was the first time she had been up in three days.

Her Ballarat lawyer said a psychologist report showed Kennett had a background of significant trauma and abuse.

He said Kennett had a history of violent relationships and the result of that was her "functioning is dreadfully compounded by severe mental health problems which has resulted in alcohol dependency".

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The lawyer said Kennett had suffered monumental disadvantage and "this is a woman who deserves considerable mercy".

Magistrate Letizia Torres told Kennett she continued to make poor decisions and she was harming community members.

"Whilst you have been hurt in your life, you are now hurting other people. The Liquorland lady must have been terrified," Ms Torres said.

"What you need to do is stop drinking."

The magistrate sentenced Kennett to two months' imprisonment saying in her view, this was a merciful decision to which Kennett replied, "thank you so much".

Kennett pleaded guilty to more than 10 charges, including stalking, car theft, theft from shop and bail offences.

She will face the County Court at a later date for allegedly breaching a community corrections order.

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