A young woman who pretended to be someone else to avoid charges for various driving, drug and stolen property offences has been sentenced to a suspended prison term.
Supreme Court Justice Robert Pearce described Holly Alice Lilly Garwood’s name game as a serious attempt to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard that on March 26, 21-year-old Garwood was pulled over by police while riding a suspected stolen motorcycle erratically.
During the stop, officers discovered she was in possession of an ice pipe and cannabis.
In an attempt to avoid arrest and potential charges, Garwood falsely identified herself as Natalia Matthews, a person she knew but was not.
“Ironically, because that person was suspected of other offending, you were arrested anyway and taken to the police station,” Justice Pearce said.
“You again gave the false name, this time with a date of birth, an address and details of a next of kin which all matched the real Ms Matthews.”
Charges were subsequently issued in Matthews’ name and Garwood even continued the deception by signing a bail document using the false identity.
The ruse continued about 10 days later when police were called to a food store in Mowbray over concerns for Garwood’s welfare.
“You were not doing anything wrong. However, you again identified yourself as Natalia Matthews,” Justice Pearce said.
“You were charged with a stealing offence the police believed that Ms Matthews had committed.”
It was only through fingerprint analysis that police uncovered Garwood’s true identity.
As a result, Justice Pearce activated an eight-week suspended sentence Garwood had previously received for unrelated crimes, ordering her to serve it beginning August 30, 2024.
In addition, Garwood was sentenced to three months in prison for perverting the course of justice.
However, that sentence was suspended for 18 months, meaning she will avoid further imprisonment unless she reoffends or breaches the suspension conditions.
“Notwithstanding your difficult background it is to be hoped that with assistance you can still turn your life around,” he said.
“This is the first time you have been in prison and hopefully you do not want to go back.”
