Claudia Melbourne: Sydney woman who tried to sneak over Vic/NSW border scolded for court fashion

A young Sydney woman who tried to sneak across the border has earned herself a dressing down over her courtroom fashion.

Claudia Melbourne and co-accused Eithan Beckett.

Magistrate Richard Funston was less than impressed by the fashion choices presented at Albury Local Court on Monday, saying it was hard to believe one defendant wasn’t “taking the mickey”.

Claudia Melbourne faced Albury Local Court wearing a tank top and a pair of baggy ripped jeans with the entire knee missing from one leg of the pants.

She pleaded guilty to knowingly providing misinformation on a COVID-19 border pass.

The 20-year-old Bidwill woman and her partner and co-accused Eithan Beckett were passengers in a vehicle trying to sneak into Albury through the Wodonga Place checkpoint on September 2.

The court heard the trio had stayed at her sister’s Wodonga house overnight, but on the pass claimed Melbourne needed to cross the border to attend court with her mother.

Under border restrictions the only reason to cross the border for court was as the accused, a witness, a lawyer, or to meet legal requirements such as parole.

Melbourne and Beckett were both charged with knowingly making a false/misleading statement.

Melbourne’s defence solicitor Sascha McCorriston said the accused had no previous criminal history and had only returned to the area to collect some of her mother’s things.

Ms McCorriston said Melbourne had made positive contributions to society.

“She was employed for six months COVID cleaning and before that was a property manager,” she said.

“She is unable to work at the moment as she has been diagnosed with a brain injury.

“She is the mother of three children – 4, 3, and 12 months.”

Magistrate Funston said charges around providing false information were at the heart of justice.

“It’s an extremely serious charge. Anyone who makes a misleading statement has to suffer consequences,” he said.

“I’m mindful of this message this charge sends out – if this had been in the peak of the pandemic I might have dealt with it in the way of a conviction.

“I had to not take into account those ripped jeans and think ‘she’s taking the mickey out of the court’.”

Magistrate Funston sentenced Melbourne to an 18 months good behaviour with no conviction recorded.

Beckett was also sentenced to 18 months good behaviour with no conviction.