A woman who acted as a getaway driver after two men stole firearms from a Hobart home did so to pay her bills, a court has heard.
Kimbra Henderson, 43, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to being an accessory after the fact of stealing a firearm.
On January 1, 2022, Henderson drove her partner Jamie Blowfield and friend Travis Frankcombe to a home in Acton Park while the homeowner was interstate.
The men broke in through an open window, taking a semi-automatic pistol, bolt action rifle, semi-automatic pistol and air rifle from a gun safe before returning to the car.
Henderson then sped away after being shouted at by a person approaching the home, but ended up on a dead-end road.
There, Frankcombe ran off into the bush to hide the guns before Henderson drove them to Blowfield’s sister’s house in Rokeby.
Acting Justice David Porter said Henderson surrendered herself to police the next morning, telling officers Frankcombe had asked for a lift to collect something and offered her money for it.
She claimed she thought she was giving Frankcombe a ride to pick someone up and did not know about the burglary or firearms until the men returned to the car.
During sentencing, Justice Porter noted Henderson’s difficult upbringing, six children, struggles with methamphetamine and financial hardship.
He said that while stealing firearms is a “serious matter” and a concern to the community, he did not think a term of imprisonment was required in Henderson’s case.
“Your crime is that of assisting others to avoid or escape punishment for stealing firearms,” he said.
“You did this by way of driving away from scene, then knowing what they had done.”
“I accept that you were in a difficult situation. I accept that more broadly your personal circumstances at the time led to your involvement.”
Henderson was convicted and given an 18-month community correction order.
