Western Downs mother sentenced for trespassing in rental properties while homeless

A homeless mother who broke into two separate rental properties and squatted in them with her children has told a court the region’s housing crisis drove her to take desperate measures.

A Wandoan woman has faced court for breaking into and squatting in rental properties. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Clark

A “desperate” mother with two teenage daughters has been sentenced after she was found to be squatting in two different rental properties.

Rachael Lee McKenna pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court on April 18 to two counts of trespassing and two counts of damaging a dwelling after police found out she had broken into empty rental homes and was staying there with her children.

The court was told that McKenna had broken into and was living in one home from May 1 to July 2 and when the power was cut off to the premises she broke into a second home until she was caught by police on July 6.

McKenna was charged with damage to both properties in Wandoan including smashing the glass at the entry to one of the homes, damages to the toilet and soiling the carpet.

The court was told she had caused $1459 worth of damage in the first home and $1360 in the second.

Mckenna’s lawyer told the court his client was “embarrassed and extremely remorseful” for her actions and had acted out of “desperation” to provide a home for her two children who were both in school.

He said McKenna had lost her previous employment after changes in management and had been sleeping rough since then, spending nights in her car.

Magistrate Kyna Morice noted the sad circumstances that had led to the squatting and said they “explained the offending but did not excuse it”.

McKenna was placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond and was ordered to pay a total of $2819 in restoration for the damage to the properties.

A conviction was also recorded.

McKenna and her children have now been placed in emergency accommodation and she has found new employment.