A Longford woman who attacked a vulnerable man with an iron bar in his own home was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Launceston to four years' jail.
Alesha Nyl Prentice, 43, was unanimously found guilty by a Supreme Court jury of aggravated burglary and aggravated armed robbery after two and half hours of deliberation.
Prentice pleaded guilty at the start of the trial to a count of computer-related fraud for using the debit card she stole to withdraw $2000 from the account of 71-year-old Christopher Hayton on October 25, 2020.
She wept throughout the sentencing hearing.
Prentice told the jury a story about five armed men in black suits coming to her unit and forcing her to make the withdrawal-a story that Crown prosecutor Claire Darvell described as a fantasy and a lie.
Justice Stephen Estcourt said there had been no expression of remorse and that there were no mitigating circumstances.
"I have seen a victim impact statement and this offence has profoundly affected Mr Hayton's life," he said.
"The robbery left him without money and food for a matter of weeks.
"It has affected his mental health and he is sad and depressed.
"This was a serious home invasion, the complainant was beaten and subject of threats in his own home."
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Justice Estcourt said the crime had all the hallmarks of a pre-meditation.
"I find that the defendant knew Mr Hayton and had his documents in her possession," he said.
The defendant took advantage of his vulnerability."
Defence counsel Olivia Jenkins said her instructions had not changed as a result of the verdict.
READ MORE: Watch out when crossing city centre streetsJustice Estcourt backdated the sentence to November 8 last year when she was taken into custody.
He said she had experienced a challenging life which included sexual violence.
The jury heard that Prentice woke Mr Hayton from his sleep with blows around the head and arms.
She demanded his PIN and threatened to come back and kill him if he provided the incorrect number.
"The injuries to Mr Hayton were significant," Justice Estcourt said.
He set a non-parole period equivalent to half the sentence.
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Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
