Jail time for 39yo woman who admits guilt to crime spree across region

A Great Southern woman has been jailed over a string of charges including a burglary in Broomehill and a car theft in Albany. Ruby Coyne, 39, pleaded guilty to her charges at the Albany Magistrate’s Court last Thursday. She was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, backdated to April 20 last year when she was taken into custody. Police prosecutor Sgt Dave Loverock told the court about several crimes Coyne had committed across the region in Katanning, Broomehill, Mt Barker and Albany. Between April 3 and 20, Coyne trespassed on a property in Broomehill, smashing a window to gain entry into the home, Sgt Loverock said. Searching through cabinets and the kitchen bench of the empty home, Coyne stole a clothesline, micro-fibre cloth, blankets, food and a shortbread tin. About 4pm on April 20, the court heard Coyne and her co-accused stole a $5000 Ford Falcon sedan from a service station in Albany. Coyne was the passenger in the stolen car. The pair were later seen driving dangerously towards Katanning. The car was found in Broomehill after it ran out of petrol. Coyne was arrested in Katanning, where police found her in possession of methamphetamine. Lawyer Elizabeth Hamilton said Coyne had been subject to social and economic disadvantage most of her life and had a significant criminal record. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said her most serious charge was the home burglary. In her sentencing remarks, Ms Scaddan said the need for community safety was paramount. “You make people feel unsafe and insecure,” she said. Ms Scaddan said she believed an immediate prison sentence reflected the overall criminality of her behaviour. “I’m not going to suspend (the sentence). The seriousness is not outweighed by personal circumstances,” she said. Coyne was fined $1900 for stealing and ordered to pay $192 in compensation for four fraud offences.