Vic: Woman wants jail so judge sentences her to be freed

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2004
Vic: Woman wants jail so judge sentences her to be freed

A Melbourne woman who staged a campaign of threatening letters in order to stay in
jail has been sentenced to return to the community.

The County Court's been told that 29-year-old JENNY ELIZABETH ATKINS, has spent no
longer than eight consecutive days out of jail since 1996.

It's been told she's become institutionalised to the extent she wants to remain in prison.

In May 2001, ATKINS was jailed for 30 months for attempting to extort $50,000 from
Uncle Toby's and threatening to tamper with its products.

Judge JOE described the series of offences, to which ATKINS had pleaded guilty, and
new letters of extortion that came to light last week.

Judge GULLACI sentenced ATKINS to a maximum eight months on the charges of making threats,
but said that with the time she has already served on remand she should be freed immediately.

ATKINS will return to Victoria Lodge, a centre for the psychiatrically ill.

AAP RTV ra/dk/wjf/as/rt

KEYWORD: ATKINS (MELBOURNE)

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