Jenalee Troutman jailed after swiping $1500 products from Goondiwindi business

A parolee with an ‘extremely poor history’ has been jailed, despite desperately pleading with the magistrate to spare her, promising she’d give up thieving for good.

Jenalee Kym Troutman has been jailed after being busted committing yet another dishonesty offence while on parole.

A serial thief broke down in court when she was told her luck had run out and her latest ‘brazen theft’ was going to put her behind bars.

Jenalee Kym Troutman begged magistrate Virginia Sturgess not to send her to jail for committing another dishonesty offence while on parole, promising she was no longer going to steal.

Troutman appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court after spending three days in the watch-house, charged with enter premises to commit an indictable offence and possessing drug utensils.
The court was told Troutman and another person entered Mackenzies Home Timber and Hardware, Goondiwindi on Friday and stashed two security cameras in a backpack before walking out.

The theft was captured on CCTV footage and Troutman, who was on parole for similar offending at the time, was taken into custody shortly after.

Ms Sturgess said the 30-year-old’s “very poor history of property offences” left her with little choice but to put the mum of one in jail.

“You have a criminal history that dates back to 2012, and I counted 54 previous convictions for dishonesty ranging from shop steal up to robbery and many in between. There’s a large number of stealing offences and a large number of enter premises offences,” she said.

“You were subject to a suspended sentence for stealing offences and you continued to steal.

“You were released on parole ... and really, you lasted two months effectively on parole before you’ve gone out and committed another dishonesty offence.

“It is aggravated as I said by being on parole, it’s aggravated by your poor history, and it’s a brazen theft.

“You simply walked into a business and walked out, you and your co-offender, with nearly $1500 worth of property.”

Defence lawyer Hamish Chapman said his client was a disability pensioner who was medicated with antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia and other secondary conditions.

He said she was “clearly a person that needs some support”.

A distraught Troutman repeatedly interrupted from the dock as she was being sentenced, saying “So I am going to jail?”, “Please don’t send me to jail”, and “I won’t steal anymore, I’m not gonna”.

“I am being urged to consider a suspended sentence. I don't consider that an adequate punishment and I don't consider that to be appropriate,” Ms Sturgess said.

“I can’t see any reason why I would make an order that artificially, effectively, prevents you from suffering the consequences of your actions.”

Troutman pleaded guilty to both offences and was sentenced to six months’ jail, with immediate parole eligibility.

She was led from the courtroom in handcuffs, with a decision on if and when parole is granted to go to the parole board.