Mandurah court: a mother used a false name at police stations

A MOTHER who won “big money at the casino” used a stolen driver’s licence and a false name to buy a car with her winnings.

Rachel Grace Williams (26) pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain property from a person by fraud, two counts of obtaining property from a person by fraud and possessing stolen or unlawfully obtained property when she appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday.

Police prosecutor Constable Sean Discombe said Williams purchased the Ford Falcon at Derossa’s T.M used cars wholesaler with a stolen driver’s licence and gave misrepresented details of another woman on June 15, 2016.

Police said Williams filled out an application form at Midland Police Station to release the vehicle. In the forms, Williams provided details from the stolen licence and a woman’s name other than her own on October 12, 2016.

Const Discombe said Williams was pulled over by the police in December 2017 while driving the Ford Falcon and went to Armadale Police Station on February 10, 2017 to fill out a vehicle recovery form.

Police said Williams again provided the wrong details and the name of another woman.

She was charged after this and made a full admission to police.

The incidents totalled $109 in costs.

Duty lawyer Matthew Davey said a pre-sentence report and two reference letters for Williams were provided to Magistrate Vivian Edwards. Mr Davey also made a request on behalf of Williams for a spent conviction.

Magistrate Edwards said the offences were of an “ongoing dishonest nature”.

Mr Davey said the mother-of-one had won a large sum of money at the casino, enough to buy a car, but needed a driver’s licence to make the purchase.

“It’s a strange set of circumstances where she’s landed big money but no licence,” Magistrate Edwards said to Williams.

Magistrate Edwards refused to grant Williams a spent conviction.

“These offences are too serious and continued over a period of time,” she said.