A woman has walked free from court after claiming her abusive partner forced her to rob a Sandy Bay chemist.
Carroll Anne Anderson-Lingo pleaded guilty to the 2019 heist at a discount pharmacy which saw the then-28-year-old walk in and apologise to a worker for demanding medications.
The then-28 year old fled with a backpack containing more than $1100 worth of narcotics.
Justice Stephen Estcourt handed down an 18-month suspended sentence and a 12-month community correction order.
“The defendant has been assessed as unsuitable for home detention due to the potential impact of isolation on her emotional and psychological well-being,” said his Honour in sentencing.
“Given the level of coercion upon the defendant to commit this crime exercised by her violent former partner, upon whom she was reliant to supply her heroin addiction, and given her subsequent rehabilitation, her plea of guilty and the lack of some obvious aggravating features attending the robbery, it might be, on one view, appropriate to impose only minimal punishment.
“However, general deterrence looms large in cases of daylight robberies of pharmacies and other commercial premises, where customers and staff are present.”
