Ingham Magistrates Court: Meghan Sue Cooper pleads guilty to violent home invasion
A mother-of-six burst into inconsolable sobbing and pleaded for leniency after she was jailed for a violent home invasion in North Queensland on New Year’s Day.
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A mother-of-six burst into inconsolable sobbing and pleaded for leniency after she was jailed for a violent home invasion in North Queensland on New Year’s Day.
“I’m going to jail?” a sobbing Meghan Sue Cooper, 44, asked her lawyer during the dramatic sentencing in the Ingham Magistrates Court on Thursday.
“Please don’t do that, Your Honour, I’ll do anything, I’ve done everything to get better, I don’t want to … I don’t deserve that.”
Cooper was eventually led from the court by a police officer, although her desperate pleas rang out for an additional 10 minutes as she was removed to the neighbouring Ingham Police Station for transport to Townsville.
The woman, who has four minors in her care, including a grandchild, had earlier pleaded guilty to entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence in Ingham in the early hours of January 1.
Queensland Police Service prosecutor Danny Burke tendered the court Cooper’s criminal history, which contained two convictions for assault.
He said police were called to the property by the female victim who was at home at 12.20am.
Mr Burke said Cooper struck the victim with a glancing blow to her head, pinned her to the wall and continued “to hold on to her, trying to punch her”.
“Another man comes into the dwelling and sprays an unknown substance on the victim, police observed scratch-type marks around the victim’s chest and a small amount of blood seeping … they’re minor injuries.”
In urging a prison sentence, Mr Burke said Cooper had previously received a suspended term of imprisonment for assault occasioning bodily harm.
He said the crime called for a term of 18 months, with a third of that term in custody.
Cooper attempted to address Magistrate Peter Smid, but was instructed to remain quiet by her defence lawyer.
He said there was history between Cooper and the victim and the attack had stemmed from an incident the previous day in which three people, including the complainant, had hurled insults outside his client’s home.
“She wasn’t home at the time but they were screaming from the street to get the defendant to come outside.”
Magistrate Smid was unimpressed by the reason offered for the home invasion.
“We’re not animals in a zoo where we can just fight each other in a cage.”
The defence lawyer said his client was battling a long-term drug addiction due to childhood trauma and had recently completed a residential drug program.
Magistrate Smid agreed with the lawyer’s recommended 12-month prison sentence but disagreed that it be wholly suspended.
Cooper, who continued to sob and hold her hands as if to pray, made a final plea: “Please don’t send me to jail mate, I’m so sorry.”
Cooper was convicted and jailed for a year with parole set for October 20.
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Originally published as Ingham Magistrates Court: Meghan Sue Cooper pleads guilty to violent home invasion
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