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Law-abiding Nanaimo woman turns to violent robberies to fuel drug habit

Mar 23, 2018 | 7:19 PM

NANAIMO — Struggling with anxiety and depression brought on by personal tragedy, 50-year-old Caroline Green tried crack cocaine for the first time. Two months later the woman with no prior criminal history robbed a pair of Nanaimo convenience stores at knifepoint.

The unusual and stunning case was laid out at a sentencing hearing in Provincial Court in Nanaimo Friday. Green previously pleaded guilty to a pair of back-to-back armed robberies in September 2016.

Crown prosecutor Frank Dubenski outlined how Green used a large knife in robberies at the Fairview Store on Second St. and the Super Save Gas on Wakesiah Ave.

There were no serious injuries, but Court heard staff from both longtime family-run businesses were left traumatized.

“She had just recently started using crack cocaine and was in debt to a man nicknamed Sparky for $160,” Dubenksi said. “Sparky told her that if she didn’t pay him she would have the option to pay it back by quote ‘working it off’ or finding some other way to pay him back.”

In a statement to police Green said Sparky planned for her to rob a gas station.

Dubenksi said the robberies had an element of coercion and premeditation, but not sophistication.

There was not enough evidence to proceed with charges against the man known as Sparky.

It was later revealed Green was high on crack cocaine at the time of the robberies.

Green originally denied the Fairview Store incident, then admitted her guilt several months later.

Dubenksi requested Green serve a 16-month sentence followed by two years probation.

“We don’t often see a female offender in this stage of her life with this kind of background involved in serious violent incidents…this is an unusual case,” Dubenski said.

Defence attorney Chris Churchill said Green is educated and had a strong employment track record and no history of illicit drug use. He said Green had worked at veterinary clinics in Nanaimo for several years.

He noted Green had issues with alcohol, but managed to continue holding down a job, until she was fired from a vet clinic in 2014 for her drinking.

Churchill said Green’s father passed away in 2012 and her former partner died of cancer in 2014.

“Her anxiety became essentially unmanageable and she became depressed. She was no longer able to hold down a full-time job,” Churchill told Court.

Churchill said Green tried crack cocaine for the first time in July 2016 and became almost instantly addicted.

He said her downward spiral happened quickly and Green exhausted her savings and sold her possessions.

Churchill told judge Douglas Cowling anything longer than a six month sentence would mean Green couldn’t appeal a deportation order.

He said she arrived in Canada as a young girl but didn’t get her citizenship.

Churchill said Green takes medication for her anxiety and depression, is open to further treatment and is working hard to remain sober.

She currently lives in supportive housing in central Nanaimo.

Green teared up for long stretches during her two-and-a-half hour sentencing hearing.

Churchill said Green is remorseful.

“She has spent her entire life as a high functioning individual. On one night of her life gets involved in these two incidents, they are deeply out of character your honour,” Churchill said.

Judge Cowling reserved his decision for a later date.

 

ian@NanaimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes