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Rockingham: woman jailed for forging doctor’s certificate to get out of corrections appointments

Gabrielle JefferyWeekend Kwinana Courier

A WOMAN was jailed after forging a doctor’s certificate to avoid attended required appointments with community corrections.

Brianna Gaye Ghilardi pleaded guilty to gaining benefit by fraud, two breaches of a conditional release order and with intent to defraud by forging a record.

The corrections officer told the court Ghilardi had forged medical certificates because she had things to do on the day and was unable to attend her scheduled appointments.

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She then forged doctors’ certificates from an original previous doctor’s certificate.

Ghilardi was on a number of intensive supervision orders at the time, due to expire on March 27, 2017.

Twice in 2015 she was caught by police with small amounts of cannabis.

One of those times she was arrested by police in Hay Street Mall, Perth in relation to several stealing incidents at shops in the vicinity.

They included taking a handbag, taking cosmetic items valued at $400 from Target; she abandoned the items when the security sensors went off.

She told police she intended putting the items on lay-by but did not like the way staff looked at her.

On June 13, 2015, she went to the Reject Shop at Southlands Shopping Centre, where she filled her trolley with items worth $546 and walked out of the store.

When security approached her she abandoned the trolley, however police were called and she was arrested.

She told police she was a kleptomaniac.

On another occasion she stole more than $400 worth of items from Watertown but was arrested shortly after.

She told police she stole because she had no money and was paying a drug debt at the time.

The duty lawyer said her client felt desperate as she was left to look after her five-year-old niece, so she forged the certificates to get out of her community corrections commitments.

She said she had tried to get out of the appointments but when she could not she forged the doctors’ certificates.

She said she had been on a downward spiral since losing a job but had recently self-referred herself to programs and counselling to get her life on track.

Magistrate Leanne Atkins dismissed Ghilardi’s efforts.

“This woman has taken it upon herself to forge records, she has lied, she has connived her way to get out of appointments with community corrections,” she said.

“You were clearly told what would happen if you breached your suspended imprisonment order (SIO).

“You did not get an authorised absence so you forged the medical certificate; that is very serious against a background of prior fraudulent behaviour.

“You went to a meth clinic to get help but these opportunities were available at the time the order was opposed and you did not take them; it’s too little, too late.

“I will activate the SIO as there is a strong need for personal deterrence.

“Also the general community at large needs to know that you can not fraudulently produce doctors’ certificates.”

She fined her $1200 for the breaches, $700 for the cannabis and triggered her suspended imprisonment order.

She will serve seven months and will be eligible for parole.

The SIO was imposed in relation to 12 fraud matters involving the use of paypass with stolen cards.