Heather Nakamarra Shannon faces court on trespass and theft charges
A woman accused of breaking into a house, stealing money before cooking eggs and chicken in the kitchen was only looking for a place to stay, a court has heard.
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A Hendon woman has faced court after allegedly breaking into a stranger’s home and cooking herself a meal.
On November 26, the Seacombe Gardens victim allegedly woke at 5am to find 44-year-old Heather Nakamarra Shannon cooking eggs and chicken in her kitchen.
The Christies Beach Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday the victim had been woken by her dog barking and the smell of cooking food.
“She sat up in bed and could hear creaking floorboards so she got up, walked out of her bedroom, she saw a figure and the defendant walking towards her,” a police prosecutor said.
“The victim screamed at the defendant to get out of her house and (the defendant) said ‘oh sorry’.
“The victim noticed her handbag had been ransacked and money to the value of $100 was missing as well as some cigarettes.”
Police later located an allegedly intoxicated Shannon sitting in a carpark on Diagonal Road.
A defence lawyer said Shannon, a traditional Aboriginal woman, had entered the home to seek refuge.
“The offending was largely formed on the back of her getting on the wrong bus and travelling to this location … and then being disorientated, being cold and scared and seeking refuge in the address,” he said.
“She’s entered the premises not for the purpose or intention of committing an offence but merely to seek shelter and refuge.”
Shannon is charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and theft.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson ordered a home detention report and bail inquiry be completed and Shannon remain in custody.
“I’m not prepared to consider anything less than home detention bail because of the seriousness of the offence and the need to protect the community from people who find their way into somebody’s home when they’re intoxicated,” Ms Anderson said.
Shannon will appear in court again next week.
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