A PREGNANT mother-of-six has been jailed for a month after using dud cheques to obtain goods valued at more than $7000.
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New Zealander Marjorie Kapua, 31, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week to 14 charges including six counts of both obtaining property by deception and committing offences on bail as well as failing a driver drug test and unlawful assault.
She was convicted, banned from driving for three months, fined $800, jailed for one month and ordered to pay $7380 compensation.
Police said that in October last year Kapua was pulled over in Portland driving a silver sedan with two small children in the car.
She tested positive to driving with ice in her system.
During November last year Kapua was involved in a dispute at Portland's Levi Court over children smashing a window and punched a victim to the mouth.
About a month ago Kapua and her partner separated.
She then used worthless cheques to buy a wide range of goods in Portland and Warrnambool stores including electronics, mobile phones and clothes.
On May 25 she returned to a Warrnambool sports store to complain about receiving only one shoe in her transactions.
Police were called and Kapua was arrested.
She told officers she had been kicked out of her home and was providing the goods to gain accommodation with people.
"I'm trying to get out of the situation I'm in," she said.
The court heard that Kapua is 17 weeks pregnant and wants to go back to New Zealand to do drug rehabilitation.
Her mother came from New Zealand to take Kapua's children back but Kapua's partner burnt her passport, which left her stranded.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose said the offending was systemic and repetitive and shops in country areas often worked on small profit margins.
Kapua said she was sorry for offending in the way she had.
