“The getaway vehicle was a bicycle,” said defence Rodney Clark while defending his client Christina L. Lansdell in Stettler provincial court Aug. 23.
Lansdell, 33, appeared via CCTV from Edmonton Remand Centre facing 22 charges including unlawfully being in a dwelling, trespassing at night, theft under $5,000, failing to comply with conditions, disqualified driving and unauthorized possession.
Clark told the court that Lansdell was living on the streets in Stettler, finding places to sleep such as on a roof of an apartment building and inside a vacant home.
Clark said his client struggles with ADHD and anxiety.
“When you look at all those circumstances this is somebody simply unsuccessfully dealing with her personal issues.”
Clark asked for 13 charges to be dropped and a six-week sentence.
“This is a sentence that is proportionate to the crime, to the facts,” said Clark.
To that, Lansdell who stood with her head down cried.
Crown prosecutor Blair Brandon told the court that in June Lansdell stole a bag of groceries from a Stettler grocery store, but added that it’s not known what items she took or their dollar value.
“She had a grocery bag with her. She took items off the shelf then walked outside. She was confronted by staff and she ignored them. She looked at the cameras and smiled.”
In addition, a Stettler resident found her unlawfully on top of a roof of an apartment building where she stole a watch from one of the residents and in another incident she was found sleeping in a vacant house.
Brandon said she was caught going through a vehicle and she stole a hooded sweatshirt.
Brandon said Lansdell was found with a small amount of meth on her when she was arrested. At the time she was bound by release conditions.
He asked the court to sentence Lansdell to 110 days in jail and issue a DNA order. The Crown dropped 13 charges.
Judge W. A. Skinner said Lansdell isn’t a candidate for probation and sentenced her to 110 days in jail and 12 months probation after she is released.
“You are just going to keep yourself very busy offending if you can’t get a handle on these problems that you have,” said Judge Skinner. “Hopefully while you are in custody you will start a program to assist you.”