Barbara Ann Kelty could be reimprisoned for assaulting police officers

A “sorry case” who was once jailed for stealing a $5 pair of scissors and fleeing a taxi bill, as well as threatening to kill police, is facing the prospect of more time behind bars.

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A TRAGIC figure who was once jailed for stealing a $5 pair of scissors and threatening a taxi driver with them is facing the prospect of even more time behind bars.

Barbara Ann Kelty, 28, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday after confessing to lashing out and spitting at police officers who arrested her for fresh crimes committed this year in the wake of her mother’s death.

Because the crimes were committed in breach of a Supreme Court suspended sentence, Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason will now need to consider whether or not to reincarcerate Kelty – who is intellectually-disabled and psychologically traumatised from a serious incident in 2014.

Barbara Ann Kelty, 28, has appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: FACEBOOK

Previously, Kelty spent six months in prison for stealing scissors from Target, making off without paying a $12.30 cab fare, and threatening the driver with the scissors.

At the time, Supreme Court acting judge Pierre Slicer described Kelty’s matter as a “sorry case”, bemoaning a lack of support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

On Friday, the court heard that on February 3, police were called to a disturbance at Sandy Bay Caltex, where Kelty was throwing items around the store and attempting to set objects on fire.

When police arrived, Kelty slapped one of them on the hand and spat at a constable.

When she was arrested, she struggled against officers until she was restrained on the ground and dragged – because she refused to walk – into the divisional van.

A spit guard was placed over Kelty’s face as she continued to prepare herself to spit at arresting officers.

“She was carried to the remand centre by six officers due to her behaviour,” a lawyer told the court.

Barbara Ann Kelty being sentenced over armed robbery in 2018.

A few weeks later on February 27, police were called to Kelty’s cousin’s apartment in Campbell St after she became intoxicated and threatened to stab the residents with scissors.

After she was arrested, she told police: “I’ll track down where you live and kill you”.

Then on May 7, Kelty set her mattress on fire inside the Hobart Reception Prison with a yellow Bic lighter.

Defence lawyer Cameron Scott said until a traumatic episode several years ago, Kelty had limited contact with police and the justice system

“She is someone who struggles to manage her personal issues, she is someone who at times ruminates and sulks and acts out at authority,” he said.

“While she was in the community, her mother died. She reacted poorly to the death of her mother and she took to using alcohol again.

“The assaults on police are a reflection of the issues and difficulties she suffers … this is a woman who has very complex needs.”

Kelty, who has pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault, four counts of assaulting police, two counts of resisting police, threatening police, setting fire to property and breaching bail, has so far spent 173 days in custody over the fresh offending.

She will return to court on September 15.

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