The Mandurah Courthouse was in a state of chaos on Tuesday after a woman lunged over the docks to kiss her partner, who had just been sentenced to nine months in prison.
Daniel William Smith pleaded guilty on a prior occasion to 34 counts of fraud after he stole “several” credit cards and bought $23,256.90 worth of items, Magistrate Anne Longden told the court.
Smith claimed to have found the credit cards in a bin.
The 30-year-old also pleaded guilty to possessing MDMA and a glass smoking implement.
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Ms Longden said Smith had committed the most-recent offences while on bail including being in the possession of a watch stolen from a burglary.
Smith claimed to have bought the watch for $2000.
Although the incidents occurred between January and July, 2016 and in June 2017, Ms Longden said the father-of-three’s sentencing was adjourned for 12 months, so he could address his methamphetamine addiction.
Malcolm Ayoub apologised to Ms Longden before leaving the courtroom to console Smith’s distressed partner.
But, he had not fully complied with the pre-sentence order and had continued to use drugs, which broke the rules of the “rehabilitation detox”.
“We’ve delayed so many times it’s becoming farcical really,” she said.
Smith’s lawyer Malcolm Ayoub asked for a further one-week adjournment.
“We’ve watched his journey, I am pro bono and trying my best,” he said.
But Ms Longden said she was not prepared to put the charges off any longer and proceeded to sentencing.
Even though Smith had put his family “through the ringer”, Ms Longden said they remained supportive and “adored” him.
Mr Ayoub said Smith, who had a “long entrenched drug problem” had contacted recovery program White Haven.
Smith cared for his mother who has emphysema and had suffered a traumatic abusive experience in his childhood, which led to his drug abuse, he said.
Even though Smith had put his family “through the ringer”, Ms Longden said they remained supportive and “adored” him.
Smith was sentenced to nine-months prison and he was made eligible for parole.
Smith’s partner sobbed loudly in the back of the courtroom and asked court officers if she could “give (him) a big hug”.
The woman walked to the dock and lunged toward Smith, who also lunged forward.
The pair shared a kiss before four court officers separated them.
Mr Ayoub apologised to Ms Longden before leaving the courtroom to console Smith’s distressed partner.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
