Erica Smailes steals car, drives at police, and loots Mildura homes in crime spree

A Mildura woman stole a car, drove at police, and broke into homes in a shocking crime spree, stealing everything from a car to a banana.

Erica Smailes fronted court and pleaded guilty to multiple charges including aggravated burglary and theft of a motor vehicle. Picture: Supplied.

A Mildura criminal launched a stunning one night crime spree, rifling through homes, stealing items, and driving a stolen car at police, a court has heard.

Erica Smailes, 30, fronted Mildura Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty on several charges including theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated burglary, recklessly endangering a police officer and possession of cannabis and GHB.

On the night of January 7, last year, Smailes targeted properties on Thirteenth St, breaking into homes and sheds. She stole a variety of items, from picnic rugs and clothing to a Ford Laser, and, bizarrely, a banana.

In the early hours of the next morning, police spotted Smailes driving the stolen car.

A pursuit ensued, culminating on Chaffey Lane, where Smailes turned the vehicle toward officers, accelerating before swerving at the last moment and crashing into a fence.

A Victim Impact Statement was read out in court detailing the trauma one of Smailes’ victims has endured since her car was stolen and house was broken in to.

She then executed a U-turn, narrowly missing a police vehicle.

On another occasion, Smailes took an iPhone 15 that had been left on a pokie machine at the Gateway Tavern. She was arrested sometime later wearing the same clothing as she had been wearing when the opportunistic crime took place and provided a no comment interview to police. The phone is still to be located.

The court also heard of an incident where police and paramedics were called when she was acting hysterically after consuming GHB.

A Victim Impact Statement was read to the court from one victim of Smailes’ crime spree that detailed the trauma the victim and her son had dealt with since their house had been broken into, and car had been stolen.

“I have had trouble sleeping and have been waking up three or four times a night. I feel violated. (The offending) has had a profound impact on my physical health. I don’t go outside the back of my house at night,” the VIS read.

“(It has been) a traumatic experience that has left me and my son feeling very vulnerable.”

Smailes looked down at the floor the entire time the VIS was being read by the police prosecutor.

The court heard Smailes stole an iPhone 15 from a pokie machine at The Gateway in Mildura. The phone is still to be recovered.

Her lawyer Hugh Middleton spoke of Smailes’ drug issues and her desire to kick the habit and resume employment.

“It appears drug use has gotten the best of her in the last couple of years,” Mr Middleton said.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan took a dim view of Smailes’ offending and desire to get clean, pointing to previous times the court had shown her leniency.

“Previously, the court dealt with you pretty leniently with the community corrections order.,” he said

“I tried to give you the opportunity to make some changes and unfortunately you didn’t do so. It gives me no joy to send you to jail today for six months,” Mr Coghlan said as he handed down his sentence.

Smailes was also fined $500 and was disqualified from obtaining a licence for two years.

With one day reckoned as pre-sentence detention, Smailes will likely be released in early July.