A woman has been jailed after pleading guilty to sneaking into WA from Victoria
A woman who showed “complete disregard” for the community when she snuck into WA after visiting Victoria by hiding in a truck has been handed the harshest jail sentence so far.
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A woman who snuck into WA by hiding in a truck, evaded police then failed to quarantine has been jailed for six months - the harshest sentence so far be handed down for the offence.
Asher Faye Vander Sanden today became what is believed to be the first person in WA to be sentenced for the full six months with Magistrate Andrew Matthews telling the 28-year-old her actions threatened to undo “what this government has done to prevent community spread in WA”.
Jonathan David became the first person in Australia to be jailed for breaching quarantine but he was given a partially suspended jail term of six months and two weeks and only had to serve a month of the term, while the remainder was allowed to be spent in the community.
Vander Sanden was today jailed for six months but was also made eligible for parole meaning she will serve at least three months after pleading guilty in Perth Magistrates Court to one count of failing to comply with a direction of the Emergency Management Act.
During the hearing, the court was told Vander Sanden had been in Victoria for a month visiting her sister when she applied to come back to WA.
She was granted permission then travelled to Mildura on July 31. Sometime between that date and August 1 she met a truck driver at a roadhouse who agreed to transport her to WA.
The court heard she hid in a car that was on the truck and failed to declare herself at Eucla.
Police were also expecting her to arrive but she failed to appear they began looking for her.
When Vander Sanden arrived in WA she contacted her boyfriend, Shaun Pilmer, who collected her from a petrol station in Midland.
He is also appeared in court today where it was revealed after she called him, he allegedly organised for her to stay at a unit in Scarborough.
The Bullsbrook man told police he had not seen her and wanted ‘nothing to do with her’ because ‘she had ruined his life’
During his hearing, police prosecutors said after Vander Sanden failed to appear at Perth Airport on August 5 officers contacted Mr Pilmer looking for her.
The court was told the Bullsbrook man, who has been charged with failing to comply with a direction and was self-represented, told police he had not seen her and wanted “nothing to do with her” because “she had ruined his life”.
Then on August 11, police spoke to him again and located Vander Sanden at the Scarborough address.
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During Vander Sanden’s hearing, her lawyer John Hammond told the court his client, who has a criminal record and struggled with methamphetamine addiction, had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had co-operated with police after her arrest.
He said she understood her actions were wrong and the risk she placed to the wider community adding she also self-quarantined while at the Scarborough address.
“There’s no contact with the outside community,” he said.
Mr Hammond said the reason police were able to locate his client was because her boyfriend contacted him — and he told them to call police and let them know their location.
But police prosecutors said jail was the only appropriate sentence arguing she had shown a “complete disregard” for the process put in place to reduce the risk of community spread.
They also said her actions to hide in a truck, then hide from police was “deceitful”.
Your conduct could have undone what this government has done to prevent community spread in WA, Mr Matthews said.
Mr Matthews agreed adding the fact she had travelled from Victoria, a COVID-19 “hotspot” places the community at greater risk.
The maximum penalty for the offence is 12 months jail or a $50,000 fine.
“Your conduct could have undone what this government has done to prevent community spread in WA,” Mr Matthews said.
He jailed Vander Sanden for six months and made her eligible for parole.
During Mr Pilmer’s hearing, the court heard police prosecutors would also be seeking jail for his alleged role in the incident and that they wanted strict bail conditions.
Magistrate Joanne Andretich warned Mr Pilmer he could end up in prison for what he allegedly did.
“Not only were you putting yourself at risk you were putting members of the public at risk,” she said.
She released Mr Pilmer on $5000 personal bail and $5000 surety and adjourned his matter until September 22 so he could seek further legal advice.