Hobart woman pleads guilty over stabbing threat on taxi driver

A HOBART woman who stole a pair of scissors and used them to threaten a taxi driver has been given a chance to turn away from crime.

Barbara Ann Kelty may be allowed to live in supported housing.

A HOBART woman who stole a $5 pair of scissors and used them to threaten a taxi driver has been given a chance to turn away from crime.

Barbara Ann Kelty, 26, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Hobart to robbery, stealing and making off without payment.

The court heard Kelty was released from the Hobart police station on October 8 last year and walked to Target, where she stole a pair of scissors.

Kelty then got into a taxi at a city taxi rank.

When the taxi arrived at a New Town address she said she had lost her wallet and bank cards and could not pay the $12.30 fare.

Kelty told the driver she would walk home and get some money to pay the fare, but moments later she grabbed a plastic bag containing about $50 in $1 and $2 coins that was sitting in the taxi’s console, and pulled the scissors from a pocket.

She then said to the driver: “If you try and stop me I’ll stab you.”

Police were called, and Kelty later said she never intended to pay the fare and that she had lied about losing her wallet.

The taxi driver is seeking compensation of $62.40 for the fare and stolen cash, and Target is seeking compensation of $5 for the scissors.

Kelty’s lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi told the court on Friday his client had an extremely low IQ and she had “spiralled out of control” after a traumatic experience in 2014.

Kelty had been remanded in custody while the matter was before the court but Acting Justice Pierre Slicer bailed Kelty so that she could take advantage of supported accommodation available to her through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The court heard vacancies for the type of accommodation Kelty will move in to are very rare and if she were to remain in custody, she may miss out on a place.

A disability support worker told Acting Justice Slicer if Kelty was not sent back to prison, it would give her a chance to take part in therapeutic programs to help her turn away from offending.

The court heard her prior convictions included 28 counts of assaulting police, six counts of stealing, assault charges, and possession of a knife in a public place.

Kelty will reappear in court on Friday to be sentenced.