Lavington woman's pregnancy shows her a new way forward

Albury Local Court magistrate Richard Funston imposed a 14-month sentence on Jodie Eileen Schilg on Tuesday.

But he also set a non-parole period - following a submission by defence lawyer Mark Cronin - that allowed her to be released from custody.

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Mr Cronin said Schilg's "very significant change in circumstances" in being pregnant qualified her for the period behind bars of six months and 25 days.

"Life is obviously very different for you from when you were offending," Mr Funston said, referring to the fact that Schilg is due to give birth in late April.

"You have had a lot of trouble in the past.

"You have had a lot of offending in the past."

But Mr Funston said he had "taken great comfort" from a report on Schilg that indicated she was committed to abstaining from drugs and alcohol and would continue to do so through ongoing programs.

"Thank you very much," Schilg, 34, said in response to Mr Funston's sentence, before turning and saying to herself: "Oh my God."

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The court was told that Schilg burgled a West Albury house on July 30 with Patrick Michael Mitchell, her partner and the father of her unborn child.

The purpose of the break-in - Mitchell forced open a window, then opened the front door - was so Schilg could retrieve a bag of belongings.

But she also grabbed other items - property that Mr Cronin said had "no value" - belonging to the victim.

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