Taneisha Lee Blakeley sentenced for violent home invasion

A young Sunshine Coast mum convicted of a drug-fuelled violent home invasion in Mountain Creek has been sentenced, with a court told “she has changed her life”.

Taneisha Lee Blakeley leaves the Maroochydore Court House on Monday, August 22.

A Sunshine Coast mum has narrowly avoided jail time for her role in a violent home invasion and robbery in Mountain Creek.

Taneisha Lee Blakeley, 19, appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday, August 21, where she pleaded guilty to robbery and enter dwelling with intent while armed in company.

Crown prosecutor Joana Dias told the court Blakeley – who was 18 at the time – and a group of young men entered the Mountain Creek home on March 30, 2022.

“Two days before the offences, Ms Blakely and co-accused Phillips went to the complainant’s home and collected a pair of shoes he had for sale for $210, she had indicated she would transfer the money through pay ID but never paid him and told him a text message that she wouldn’t pay him,” Ms Dias said.

Ms Dias told the court a number of incidents occurred between the defendant and the complainant relating to the exchange of valium and xanax over the days before the robbery, with Blakeley approaching the complainant’s house at one point with a butcher’s knife.

The court was told on the night of the robbery Blakeley’s co-accused and former partner, Phillips, entered the home first pulling a pistol from his bag and demanded to know where the complainant was.

Ms Dias said the other housemates home at the time heard screams of “don’t shoot me”, with one victim reporting someone in house said “this is what you get for f---ing with Northside”.

Defence barrister Laura Reece told the court she understood the offences to be drug-related as Blakeley was addicted to a number of substances at the time.

“This is really about drugs not about shoes,” Ms Reece said.

“While the infliction of harm by her is serious, in my submission it doesn’t elevate her involvement.”

Ms Reece told the court Blakeley had made significant attempts to improve her and her young daughter’s lives while on bail, stating “she has changed her life”.

District Court chief judge Brian Devereaux told the court Blakeley’s young age and limited criminal history meant she was able to be placed on probation.

Blakeley was sentenced to four years imprisonment, wholly suspended and a three-year probation order.