A young woman badly affected by her addiction to "ice" pulled out a knife shortly after punching someone she had just robbed, a court has heard.
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It was obvious, magistrate Richard Funston said, that Shanaya Walsh would not be before the court if not for her habitual drug use.
He asked the 22-year-old, who appeared in Albury Local Court via a video link to Silverwater women's prison, if her life had changed since she stopping using while in custody since June 23.
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"Yes, your honour, I feel a lot more clear-headed than I have in the past."
Walsh, who pleaded guilty to assault and steal from person, knew the victim through a mutual acquaintance.
During her sentencing hearing, Mr Funston asked Walsh's grandparents - who have raised her since she was a baby - for their thoughts on her situation and her continued rehabilitation.
"She's a good kid," her grandmother said on getting to her feet in the public gallery, "she just went off the tracks a bit. Your honour, we love her unconditionally."
Defence lawyer Dominic Holles said Walsh began smoking marijuana when aged 12.
The early exposure to illicit drugs exacerbated mental health issues for Walsh, who had since been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The court was told the victim, 31, was walking along Mate Street, North Albury, on June 23 about 1am when he saw Walsh come out of a driveway.
They talked then he went to a nearby house.
Walsh returned to the same house about 1.30am and went inside, as she knew the occupant.
She approach the victim and "was aggressive and abusive".
After demanding items from the victim, she reached into one of his pockets and pulled out his mobile phone and a bank card.
The victim demanded his belongings back, but Walsh refused and punched him several times.
When she left, he followed her to a Klose Street house and they both went inside, where Walsh punched him again and, at one point, pulled out a pocket knife and slashed towards his face.
Walsh was placed on an 18-month community corrections order.
