A 22-YEAR-OLD Hamilton woman who assisted in the theft of a speedster boat and trailer in Port Melbourne has narrowly escaped a jail sentence.

Molly Richardson pleaded guilty in the Hamilton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday on charges of theft.

Police Prosecutor leading senior constable, Greg Kew, told the court that between February 26 and 27, Richardson and a co-accused hooked a yellow speedster boat and trailer to the approximate value of $10,000 to a Nissan Patrol with stolen plates at a carpark in Port Melbourne. 

The court heard several witnesses later reported seeing the boat and trailer had become unhooked from the Nissan Patrol driven by the co-accused, causing damage to the boat.

The court was told that the vehicle continued to travel without the trailer attached and the accused and co-accused were witnessed attempting to light a t-shirt on fire and place it in the rear of the vehicle to set it alight.

Noel Kennedy was the defence lawyer for Richardson and said his client did attempt to decamp from the scene, that she was a minor player in the offending, and subsequently cooperated with police.

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge ordered the accused be assessed for a Community Corrections Order (CCO) and said if it was poor, she would serve an immediate term of imprisonment.

“It’s not an insignificant crime,” he said.

“(This is your) last chance.”

Following approval for a CCO, Magistrate Lethbridge convicted Richardson and placed her on a CCO for 12 months plus a further 40 hours of unpaid community work under supervision.