Brooke Leanne Oliver: Geraldton woman sentenced for multiple stealing from shops, disorderly at women’s refuge

A 34-year-old woman has been sentenced to a community-based order after stealing from several stores across Geraldton, damaging property and behaving in a disorderly way at a women’s refuge. Brooke Leanne Oliver appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court by video link from prison on Monday where she was sentenced on 15 charges. She has spent the past five months in custody on remand. Police prosecutor Sgt Ross Gray said Oliver entered Rigters IGA on Durlacher St in September 2021, and stole a jam and cream sponge cake, a meat pie and a variety of other groceries. She later entered Bluff Point Newsagency in October, stashing several items in her jacket and walking out of the store. Oliver re-entered and repeated the stealing twice before a female staff member attempted to stop her, telling Oliver “police are on their way”. This resulted in Oliver slapping the worker in the face, and striking a second worker in the ribs with her elbow and fleeing in a vehicle. The following month, Oliver entered BWS at Seacrest Shopping Centre and walking out with two cartons of Jack Daniels without paying. In June this year, Oliver threw a broken table at a car, causing a window to smash. She then entered the women’s refuge in Wonthella, with a staff member telling her she didn’t have permission to be there and requesting she leave. Oliver became aggressive, throwing items across the room and shaking the entry gate until it broke. The estimated damage costs were $500. Oliver was charged with stealing, assault with intent to prevent arrest, criminal damage, trespass and disorderly behaviour and breach of bail and has been in custody since April. Defence lawyer Eva Svanberg said Oliver had stayed out of trouble since 2018 and it wasn’t until her father’s death that her behaviour began to change. She said alcohol was a contributing factor, as well as being a victim of domestic violence. Magistrate Angus Hockton said he would issue a seven-month community-based order and “modest” fines so Oliver could get support. He took into account her “significant” period of time in prison and that she had gone through personal difficulties. Oliver was fined $1000 and ordered to pay damage costs.