33-year-old Brittany Barling (R) leaves the Nanaimo courthouse on Friday, June 14, and will serve 180 days of a non-custodial sentence followed by four months of probation for various crimes in Nanaimo in 2023. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

jail in community

Woman sentenced for post-treatment crime spree in Nanaimo

Jun 18, 2024 | 11:21 AM

NANAIMO — An Alberta woman avoided jail after being convicted of stealing mail, a vehicle, and items from a thrift store in three separate incidents while living in Nanaimo.

Brittany Michelle Barling, 33, pleaded guilty to a number of lesser charges in a Nanaimo courtroom on Friday, June 14, and will serve a six-month Conditional Sentence Order (non-custodial sentence) to be served in Nanaimo, followed by eight months probation.

Barling, who spent time in a Calgary jail for prior offences in that province, moved to Nanaimo in June of 2023 to attend a Nanaimo-based residential treatment facility, which she completed mid-way through August.

But once released, Barling found herself homeless in a strange town with no support system, leading to her relapse, said defence lawyer Dina Diab during court proceedings.

“The punishment is still in accordance with the principles of sentencing, especially in Ms. Barling’s case given that the mischief underlying these charges is truly a drug addiction, and my client is very eager, your honour, to better herself and has actually proven that given that she’s been without any kind of incidents since February 12.”

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On Nov. 12, 2023 at Nanaimo’s Maffeo Sutton Park, Barling stole a recently parked vehicle with the owner and his family, including young kids, watching her leave the scene.

Witnesses reported a woman, who turned out to be Barling, wearing a wig while rummaging through and driving the vehicle.

Barling was arrested without incident shortly after in the vicinity, while the undamaged vehicle was returned to the owner.

On Dec. 9 police were called to a north Nanaimo residential building on Blueback Rd. to reports a community mailbox in the lobby had been tampered with.

Police reviewed security footage and recognized Barling as she used a pry bar to open the mailboxes and remove letters, which were eventually recovered.

Then on Dec. 23, a loss prevention officer at the Value Village on Fifth St. told police around $70 worth of items were stolen, with a suspect matching Barling’s description still in the parking lot.

Police attended and arrested Barling.

During the June 14 sentencing hearing, judge Tamara Hodge said it’s unfortunate but not surprising Barling turned to drugs while being young and homeless.

But it doesn’t excuse her actions following her release from the Nanaimo treatment centre, warning Barling she “can’t (continue) to do this and think you can walk away without any consequence.”

“What’s concerning is all those things happened within six weeks, and that is concerning as well when you look at the criminal history that Ms. Barling has. By my count, she has six convictions for theft under, there’s a possession of documents not her own…and then you got fraud convictions along with other things.”

Judge Hodge said while jail time was within the sentencing range for these latest charges, she agreed with the joint submission.

“You’re starting to create quite a criminal history…. and coming back again before the court, you very well may see yourself…back over at Alouette (Correctional Centre for Women, Maple Ridge) where you’ve already spent some time, and hopefully we don’t see you back there again.”

Barling declined to comment in court with the exception of confirming she understood her sentence.

She’ll be under numerous conditions while serving her CSO and probation orders, including keeping good behaviour, not entering any place which sells alcohol, and is banned from Nanaimo’s Value Village and the Blueback Rd. building.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow