Waving knife at local store among crimes woman committed

It took some time for Kimberley Robinson to recognize she was in trouble because of her conduct --  that she was out of control -- her lawyer told a judge Thursday.

But when she did, the 29-year-old woman decided she needed to change and didn't seek bail after she was arrested in April of last year, Eric McCooeye said.

It wasn't until late September that she sought release, after successfully completing a number of programs, the defence said after she pleaded guilty to 12 charges.

The offences included two counts of robbery and single counts of assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, obstructing police, mischief and theft.

She also was convicted of five charges of breaching release orders.

Ontario Court Justice John Condon heard city police were contacted by Walmart loss prevention officers at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2021.

A woman, waving a knife, walked away from a register, and was attempting to leave the store with a cart full of unpaid items, including diapers, a laundry basket and a vacuum.

The incident was captured on video and police also were provided with a licence plate number of the involved vehicle, prosecutor Karen Pritchard.

The stolen items were valued at $361.

On Dec. 7, 2021, Robinson was at Canadian Tire at 10:30 a.m., pushing a shopping cart loaded with $1,463 in tools and putting them in reusable bags 

When a manager approached her, she tried to remove the items and leave the store, Pritchard said.

The manager grabbed her coat, and she struck him on the side of the head. 

A bystander intervened and she bit his right hand, breaking the skin in two locations, the assistant Crown attorney said.

When police arrested her, Robinson told officers "it's not robbery, I didn't use a weapon."

She was released from custody the following day.

Ten days later, her sister, who was her surety, contacted police to report she wasn't abiding by her conditions.

On Dec. 19, 2021, another sister made a report to police about a confrontation she had with Robinson at Walmart.

The accused threw a bottle of shampoo at her sibling. It struck her in the head "exploding all over."

The sister was in her vehicle, when she spotted Robinson, pursued by employees, running out of the store with a cart full of merchandise.

Robinson rammed the cart against the vehicle three times, causing $1,000 in damage, Pritchard said.

On Jan. 17, 2022,  she missed a court date, Condon heard.

Not long after, on Feb. 4,  just before 7 p.m., she was back in Canadian Tire, where she caught the eye of security as she was stealing items.

She was arrested outside the store with $562 worth of tools.

Robinson obstructed police by falsely identifying herself -- using a third sister's name, the Crown said.

After missing court again in April, she ended up in custody, but didn't seek bail, and started on her road to redemption, McCooeye told the court.

His client has a criminal record with offences up to 2014.

For seven years she was able to maintain sobriety before going back to her old ways, he said.

While in custody, between April and September, when she was released on bail, and since then, Robinson, "has been doing everything she can to rehabilitate herself," the defence said.

She has insight into what she needs to do, has applied for residential treatment programs, reconnected with her family and wants to return to school.

"Incarceration has driven her towards a better life."

The defence and Crown jointly recommended that she be given credit for eight months pre-sentence custody to be applied to the robbery convictions.

Robinson also should receive a further six-month conditional sentence to be served in the community, followed by probation, they suggested.

Pritchard described the "significant escalation of violence" in the woman's offences as concerning.

"If she comes back before the court with similar offences, she's not going to get the benefit of a conditional sentence," the prosecutor said. 

When Condon asked the accused if she wanted to say anything to the court, she replied "no thank you."

The judge told Robinson he was struck by the people who were victims of her misconduct -- store security personnel, a bystander and her family members. 

People, who were just doing their job, stopping you from stealing from them, and your response is to pull a knife.

"Their hope is to go home safely, and they run into you."

He also pointed to her sisters -- one of whom she had rammed a shopping cart into a vehicle where there was a small child.

Her lawyer has indicated a "substantial change in attitude," Condon said, adding he's pleased she's found enlightenment.

The judge also noted he's sentencing a different person than the one who was involved in the offences.

 "You were in a bad state at the time," he told Robinson.

When he imposed the sentence of time served, plus the six-month conditional sentence, Condon said there will be no curfew or house arrest.

Robinson can have no communication with the store security officers or the bystander involved in the Canadian Tire incidents and can't go to that store or Walmart.

As well, she must not harass her sisters, can't possess weapons and must take any assessment, counselling and rehabilitation programs for substance abuse.

Robinson also is prohibited from possessing weapons 

The sentence will be followed by 12 months probation with the same conditions.