Norlane’s Lily McKenzie, 24, pleads guilty to driving while disqualified
A Norlane woman driving a car with stolen plates was found by police playing the pokies at a Newtown pub and told them she had bought the car recently for $1000 in cash.
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A Norlane woman driving a car with plates stolen from a train station was found by police playing the pokies at a Newtown pub and told them she had bought the car recently for $1000 in cash.
Lily McKenzie, 24, fronted the Geelong Magistrates Court on Wednesday via videolink from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne.
She has pleaded guilty to a string of offences including driving while disqualified and handling stolen goods.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Sinfield told the court unknown offenders broke into an Armstrong Creek home and stole a Ford Focus as well as a pink handbag from a Honda Civic on April 13 last year.
The next day about 11.30am, the owner of the Focus saw McKenzie driving the car along Barwon Heads Rd in Marshall.
They followed the car to an address in Breakwater and called triple-0.
Police saw the stolen Focus parked in a driveway, with McKenzie and an associate standing next to it.
Officers found 13.3g of methamphetamine inside the car as well as a box containing various tools and the stolen pink handbag.
Police allege the tools were stolen from Armstrong Creek the previous day.
Constable Sinfield said McKenzie’s license had been disqualified in August 2022 for four years.
On July 20 last year, patrolling police saw McKenzie exit a Holden Astra and head into the St Lords Hotel in Newtown.
The Astra had number plates which had been stolen from the Geelong train station four days early.
Police found McKenzie playing pokies inside the venue and she told officers she had “purchased it for $1000 in cash recently”.
On July 28 last year about 9.30pm, police witnessed McKenzie sitting inside a parked Holden Astra in Norlane.
Checks confirmed the registration plates had been stolen and she was arrested.
McKenzie admitted to police that she was the owner of the Astra and said she was “unaware the plates had been stolen or which ones matched the vehicle”.
On February 12 last year, police saw McKenzie driving in Norlane about 1am.
She told police she “had to get home because (her) friends were having a domestic (argument)”.
McKenzie’s lawyer, Tom Edwards, said his client was currently serving a term of imprisonment imposed by the County Court.
“A term of imprisonment is within range for these matters,” he said.
“General deterrence should be at the top of the sentencing shopping list.”
Mr Edwards said McKenzie has been “productive” while in custody, attending weekly alcoholic and narcotics anonymous meetings.
“Despite her progress, it doesn’t take away this is her first time in custody and for a person of youth, that hardship is relevant,” he said.
Constable Sinfield agreed with the defence’s submission but said the charges were “on the higher end of the spectrum”.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie said McKenzie was putting other drivers at risk when she continues to drive without a license.
She will be sentenced on Friday.
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Originally published as Norlane’s Lily McKenzie, 24, pleads guilty to driving while disqualified
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