A woman whose pet German shepherd was previously considered an offensive weapon during a roadside robbery following a two-car collision has been released from jail.
The ACT Magistrates Court on Monday heard that Kira Lee Meagher, 23, was driving on the wrong side of the Barton Highway towards Yass on September 27 when she crashed into another car.
Meagher got out of her car with her German shepherd, walked over to the victim and said words to the effect of "I'll take your car and you take mine".
The victim was screaming for help before Meagher yanked the keys out of his hands then took off in his car.
Later that night when police spoke with her, she admitted to taking the car.
Police observed her being erratic, rocking back and forth and spontaneously singing.
Meagher, who worked in the retail and security industries, indicated she was under the influence of illicit substances.
She appeared via video link in court on Monday for sentencing after pleading guilty to robbery, which was no longer aggravated - due to the offensive weapon being her dog - following negotiations with the prosecution.
She also admitted to using an unregistered and uninsured vehicle and failing to keep left.
Magistrate James Lawton said the offending could be explained by her ongoing use of drugs based on the incident, her admissions and her letter of remorse to the court.
"The reality is she's now committed an offence which merit the imposition of a custodial sentence," Mr Lawton said.
"However, I'm prepared to give her an opportunity to be released into the community with a partially suspended sentence hanging over her head."
Mr Lawton said it was up to Meagher to take steps to deal with her drug use and mental health issues.
He sentenced Meagher to six months' jail for the robbery and one-month good behaviour orders for the traffic offences.
Having already been in custody for 85 days, Meagher's jail term was suspended from Monday.
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Earlier in the hearing, the prosecutor said that Meagher's dog was also a factor.
"She was also in the presence of her large German shepherd, which while not an aggravating factor in an aggravated robbery sense, it would have nonetheless caused the complainant some fear," she said.
Defence lawyer Uelenitoni Tu'ulakitau said rehabilitation was paramount for his client, who was enrolled in nursing and paramedicine.
"She's someone who's hit rock bottom," Mr Tu'ulakitau said.
"This experience of being incarcerated has given her an opportunity to re-evaluate and reflect on what she wants to do in life."
The court heard Meagher was exploring the potential to study neuroscience in Melbourne.
The prosecution had dropped the charge of failing to comply with a public health direction.
