Launceston woman healthier and happier after using prison time well

Dawn Ann-Marie Ward, 26, also pleaded guilty to drugs and driving charges, firearm charges, breach of bail and computer-related fraud charges.

She also faces a breach of suspended sentence applications and a breach of Community Correction Orders.

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Police prosecutor Matt Hills said the toys were seized when police searched Ward's home under warrant on November 12.

The toys had been stolen from the Toy Warehouse. Defence counsel Evan Hughes said they had dropped at her house by people.

He said Ward had also been caught in possession of a security system stolen from a home at Mowbray in May.

She also pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition possession of a controlled plant and possession of a dangerous article in a public place.

Mr Hills said Ward and a co-offender decamped from a Subaru Impreza with a pink handbag after being intercepted for speeding on the Midland Highway last year.

The handbag contained forty .22 bullets, a hunting knife and three sealed bags of cannabis.

She pleaded guilty to fourteen counts of disqualified driving over three days in July.

In October, Ward used a stolen fuel card to pay for $50 worth of fuel.

Mr Hughes said Ward had spent a total of 207 days in custody since February 2020 including a period of remand from October 2020 to March 2021.

He said she had used the time in prison effectively and had come before the court a healthier and happier person than when she was remanded.

Ward wept as Mr Hughes described her struggle with drug addiction last year after a strong employment history until affected by family violence with a former partner.

He said she had enrolled in several courses and had ambitions of involvement in event management and dog grooming.

Magistrate Ken Stanton disputed Mr Hughes submission on the disqualified driving charges as being less aggravating than if she had been intercepted by police.

The charges arose from the examination of surveillance footage.

"It really shows a blatant defiance of court orders over three days. It says 'I am going to go about my daily activities and drive notwithstanding the court orders'," Mr Stanton said.

He remanded Ward in custody for sentence on Wednesday at 2.15pm.

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