Robber steals victim's car after crashing into it on Barton Highway

Kira Lee Meagher, 23, has been sentenced for a robbery. Photo: Facebook.

A woman who crashed into her victim’s car before stealing his keys, jumping into the car and driving off has been sentenced in the ACT Magistrates Court.

On 27 September 2021, Kira Lee Meagher was driving her car on the Barton Highway towards Yass. She was travelling on the wrong side of the road when she crashed into the other vehicle.

They both stopped and she got out and approached him with her dog, a German shepherd, telling the driver of the other car, “I’ll take your car and you take mine”.

She snatched his keys away from him then she and her pet jumped into the man’s car and drove off.

When police found her later that day she was erratic, singing spontaneously and told them she had “smoked a point”.

Toni Tu’ulakitau of Tu’ulakitau McGuire said his 23-year-old client spent 85 days in custody before her sentencing in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (20 December).

He said she “squarely has hit rock bottom” and her rehabilitation was paramount to her becoming a contributing member of society.

The prosecutor said Meagher had probably told her victim she wanted his car due to the damage to her own and having her German shepherd with her would have caused the man to fear for his safety.

He had been screaming for help and was very scared, she said.

Magistrate James Lawton said it was clear that a large part of her offending could be explained by her ongoing use of multiple drugs.

He said she was probably at a turning point. She had to take steps to deal with her mental health and drug use, and if she didn’t, she may come back before the courts again and again.

She was sentenced to six months’ jail, backdated to account for the time she had already served and suspended from Monday for an 18-month good behaviour order.

She had pleaded guilty to robbery and traffic-related charges. An aggravated robbery charge had been discontinued against her.