Maitland: Kayla Leigh ‘both perpetrator and victim’ of alleged kidnapping hoax, court hears
A court has heard a 20-year-old woman was coerced into participating in her own alleged kidnapping hoax.
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A Mayfield woman accused of playing the part of a hostage in an alleged kidnapping hoax was “both the perpetrator and the victim,” a court has heard.
Kayla Leigh fronted Maitland Local Court on Tuesday, charged with conveying false information that a person or property is in danger.
The 20-year-old’s Legal Aid lawyer told the court she was a particularly vulnerable person.
“Ms Leigh has been the victim of financial abuse by the co-accused’s family,” she said.
“She hasn’t received Centrelink payments for some time because the co-accused’s family has been keeping them from her.
“I do think she is both the perpetrator and the victim in this matter.”
Police allege Ms Leigh was handcuffed and appeared to be held against her will, in a video call to her family on August 18.
She was charged at a Maitland hotel in the early hours of the following morning.
Magistrate Ron Maiden acknowledged the unusual circumstances of the case.
“This appears to be a borderline matter,” Mr Maiden said.
“There does appear to be the suggestion of coercion.”
Ms Leigh will face court again on November 27.