A Christchurch woman’s “better effort” at doing her community work was an illusion – she had someone else doing it in her place.
That fiddle has brought serious trouble for Nikita Chela McCausland, 29, after the other woman was caught signing in for her for two days of community work.
After the community work hours were recorded, Community Probation filed a report with the court about her improved performance and recommended that she be convicted and discharged for a charge of breaching the sentence.
When the truth came out, McCausland was charged with perverting the course of justice, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ jail.
McCausland had been sentenced to 100 hours of community work for driving while suspended. The two days she fiddled – she drove the other woman to community work and picked her up afterwards – are still not done.
McCausland appeared for sentencing yesterday before Christchurch District Court Judge Brian Callaghan on this charge, which she had admitted, and further charges of unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a pipe for smoking methamphetamine, and receiving a $2000 laptop computer by being reckless about whether it had been stolen.
Defence counsel Sunny Teki-Clark said McCausland had now distanced herself from the criminal world, including associates and family members. She had been engaged with Narcotics Anonymous for four months, and said she had been accepted for a rehabilitation programme, starting in July.
He said her risk of reoffending was “pegged” to her drug and alcohol issues.
McCausland has 65 convictions for dishonesty offences, and eight breaches of sentences or release conditions.
Prosecutor Pip Norman said that in the circumstances of the case, the Crown wanted confirmation of the rehabilitation arrangements rather than just accepting McCausland’s word. The important question for the court was whether a home detention term was appropriate.
Judge Callaghan remanded McCausland to June 21 for sentencing so that the rehabilitation could be checked, and for more submissions about the sentence that should be imposed for perverting the course of justice.
McCausland is on electronically monitored bail, and has been assessed for a home detention sentence.
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