Shawnakay Sajanie Ramsay found squatting in a vacant house at the Capricorn Coast
A woman has faced court after she was found squatting in a house at the Capricorn Coast. Here’s why she did it and the punishment she received.
Police & Courts
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A homeless woman has faced court after she was found squatting in a vacant house at the Capricorn Coast.
Shawnakay Sajanie Ramsay, 23, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 7 to a charge of unlawfully remaining in a dwelling.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Pete Rumford said about 2.30pm on March 15, a woman went to a house she owns at Pattison Street, Emu Park.
The house had been vacant while renovations were ongoing.
Snr Const Rumford said the homeowner saw that a door had been “kicked in”.
When the homeowner went into the house, she found Ramsay in a bedroom and told her to leave.
Snr Const Rumford said police spoke to Ramsay who made full admissions “that she had been staying at the dwelling”.
Ramsay further told police that she thought she had done nothing wrong because the house was vacant.
Snr Const Rumford said Ramsay was “somewhat argumentative” with police, saying she did not do any damage to the front door.
The court heard that Ramsay had no Queensland criminal history but she did have one from the Northern Territory.
Solicitor Joanne Madden said Ramsay was homeless and the property was open so she had gone in for shelter for the night.
Ms Madden said Ramsay was adamant that she did not cause any damage to the door.
The solicitor said that Ramsay had no form of income and she was not receiving Centrelink because of complications around her not being able to provide a residential address.
Ms Madden asked Magistrate Jason Schubert to consider convicting Ramsay and not further punishing her.
Mr Schubert said he would not do that as “the offence is far more serious than that.”
He fined Ramsay $450 and did not record a conviction.
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