A young Reject Shop worker living in government housing has found herself behind bars after allegedly joining two teenage girls in a terrifying home invasion in Geelong.
Brodee Lea Scott, 22, appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday, accused of allegedly storming a woman’s home, assaulting her and ransacking the property.
The court heard Ms Scott allegedly stepped in when one of her co-accused tried to stab the alleged victim.
Despite having never been jailed before, and in the wake of the death in custody of another first-time inmate, 18-year-old Tarsha Golightly, Magistrate Simon Guthrie refused Scott’s bail application, finding she had failed to establish the exceptional circumstances required for release.
Police allege Scott and two 17-year-old girls, who cannot be named because of their age, descended on the woman’s home in Geelong West on August 16.
The court heard that one of the teenagers allegedly had a grievance against the woman, believing she had information about the death of someone they knew.
She allegedly went to the property first, with Ms Scott and a second girl arriving later.
Detective Acting-Sergeant Peter Willetts told the court the woman was allegedly assaulted by all three, including having her head stomped on three times.
Brodee Lea Scott, 22, appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court, accused of allegedly storming a woman’s home, assaulting her and ransacking the property
Brodee, who lives in government housing, posed for a Facebook selfie with a bong sitting conspicuously in the background
Her home was allegedly ransacked while she was threatened with further violence.
Things then took a turn when one of the teenage girls allegedly produced a knife and attempted to stab the woman, only for Ms Scott to allegedly intervene.
Her lawyer, Hollie Lyons, claimed her client had been attempting to defuse the situation and was effectively ‘letting herself be a lamb to slaughter’.
Detective Acting-Sergeant Peter Willetts was less convinced.
‘I don’t think she’s defusing any situation… she knows if [her co-accused] stabs her she’s going to jail,’ he told the court.
‘She’s putting her arm in front of a person who is drug affected and carrying a knife,’ Ms Lyons countered.
Whatever Scott’s intentions, police allege the drama was far from over.
The trio allegedly returned to the house, this time smashing a window with a golf club and stealing more belongings.
Her lawyer argued Scott was only 22, had never been to prison before, and had found herself caught up in a grievance that was not her own
Police painted a different picture and the prosecution case was described as ‘very strong’
The alleged victim managed to flee over a fence, but police allege she was followed and assaulted again by one of Scott’s co-accused.
Detective Willetts said the woman spent two days in hospital with a broken nose, possible broken jaw, a severely swollen face and a cut to her back requiring stitches.
She was so fearful of retribution that she felt unable to return to her own home, the court heard.
Ms Scott, meanwhile, was seeking to return to her mother’s care if released on bail.
The court heard she had been assessed as suitable for supported bail through the Court Integrated Services Program and was prepared to engage with treatment.
Ms Scott, who previously worked at discount retailer the Reject Shop, had also lived in government housing in North Geelong.
Her Facebook profile offers a glimpse of a chaotic life, with one photo showing Scott posing in a revealing outfit while a pink bong sits conspicuously in the background.
Her lawyer argued Scott was only 22, had never been to prison before, and had found herself caught up in a grievance that was not her own.
‘She’s also a very young woman, finding herself in a situation where the grievance isn’t hers,’ Ms Lyons said.
But police painted a different picture.
Another young woman from Geelong, Tarsha Golightly, died five days after arriving at hardened women’s prison Dame Phyllis Frost Centre
Tarsha Golightly (pictured) had been charged with theft, criminal damage by arson, aggravated burglary and breaching a Family Violence Intervention Order
Hundreds gathered to farewell Tarsha in Geelong on August 14 (mourners are pictured)
Prosecutor Denise Frame described the prosecution case as ‘very strong’, pointing to CCTV footage and an audio recording as evidence.
Scott was a ‘willing participant’ in the ‘appalling’ offending, Leading Senior Constable Frame told the court.
And, she added, it had happened ‘in the sanctity of one’s own home’.
‘[Ms Scott] was aggressive, she was threatening, she was only intervening momentarily to save her friend from getting into more trouble,’ she alleged.
One of Ms Scott’s co-accused has already been remanded in custody, while the other was due to face the Children’s Court last Wednesday.
She will remain behind bars and return to court at a later date.
Ms Scott’s matter comes weeks after Geelong teen Tarsha Golightly died in custody after being charged with a string of offences, including theft, criminal damage by arson, aggravated burglary and breaching a Family Violence Intervention Order by allegedly contacting or approaching a protected person in defiance of the order.
The 18-year-old had been arrested on May 4 and initially held at Parkville Youth Justice Precinct. She was later transferred to Dame Phyllis Frost Centre on July 22.
Tarsha would die just five days after her arrival.
She had been placed in a single cell in the Dorson unit where new reception prisoners were held.
On July 27, at about 7.46am, a prison officer unlocked her cell. The court heard Tarsha left carrying a laundry bag containing a concealed bedsheet.
She then used the bedsheet to take her own life in the prison yard.
Her body was found two hours later by two other prisoners, who alerted staff.
CPR was commenced, but Tarsha was pronounced dead by an on-site Western Health nurse at 10.03am.
The court heard police later found handwritten notes expressing suicidal thoughts.
