A Salmon Gums woman has been fined $6,000 for “wasting” police resources after she made false distress calls.
As previously reported by the Esperance Weekender (October 11), Jasmineanne Mina Laurie, 45, was charged with creating false belief after she called police saying her partner was assaulting her.
Laurie was before Esperance Magistrates court on Tuesday where the facts were read once again, this time by Police prosecutor Sophia Walton.
“The accused said she lied because she was drunk and wanted to teach her partner a lesson,” Acting Sgt Walton said.
Police received several distress calls over 15-hour period, A/Sgt Walton said, with Laurie insinuating her partner was behaving violently and had a gun.
A/Sgt Walton said 16 police officers travelled from Perth and nine officers travelled from Esperance to assist Laurie at a cost of $44,183.
“A term of imprisonment would be warranted,” A/Sgt Walton said.
“She continued this ruse for 15 hours.
“She could have come clean at any time.”
A/Sgt Walton emphasised the danger Laurie had not only put herself in danger, but her partner too.
“The alleged accused, he could have been shot,” she said.
Laurie’s lawyer said she was “very embarrassed” about the incident and was “very sorry for wasting police resources”.
Magistrate Andrew Matthews said Laurie could learn from the boy who cried “wolf”.
“Family violence is not to be scoffed at,” he said.
“Too often women are murdered at the hands of their partners.”
Acknowledging Laurie’s remorse, Magistrate Matthews sentenced her to a 12-month intensive supervision order and ordered counselling from community corrections.
After he considered the losses to police, Magistrate Matthews said a $6,000 compensation order was an appropriate fine for Laurie’s offence.
