Kamarah Rose Riley was not at home in the early hours of Christmas morning 2001.
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Instead, she was breaking into a home in Nancarrow Lane, Wellington to help feed her drug habit.
The 20-year-old mother of one faced a sentencing hearing in Dubbo District Court after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence.
The court heard the victim was home wrapping presents when about 2am she heard her dogs barking.
Turing around, she saw a person running out the door with her handbag.
The victim gave chase down the street and recognised Ms Riley when she stepped under a street light.
The victim recognised the offender because she was a hairdresser who frequently attended to Ms Riley's grandmother.
Later on Christmas Day, the victim fronted up to Ms Riley's grandmother's house and had some items returned to her, but Ms Riley did not plead guilty to the offence until after she had spoken with police several times.
Judge Sir Robert Woods noted that Ms Riley had been dealing with a drug problem and had also given birth to her first child while being held on remand.
"This is a serious matter for any court," he said.
"The break and enter was not highly organised, it may have been an impulsive action related to her drug habit but that's no excuse. She has expressed her remorse to the court and her need to get her life back on track."
Judge Woods added the timing of the offence was a negative element.
"The fact that this offence took place on Christmas morning - a time when there's meant to be a general feeling of goodwill in the community - takes this offence into the heinous category," he said.
"The community is calling for stronger sentences and people are entitled feel safe in their own home, especially on Christmas morning."
He said he took a number of factors into consideration when sentencing Ms Riley.
"The sentence has to act as a lesson and deterrent to others, as well as providing for the rehabilitation and reform of the offender," Judge Woods said.
"The prisoner is still a young person and there is a good chance of rehabilitation.
"I also have to take into account the fact she has been separated from her child since she gave birth - maybe the responsibility of the child may result in a change in her life.
"The negative factors are the fact she was on a suspended sentence at the time this offence was carried out."
Ms Riley was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months.
The sentence was backdated to February 4 2002 in consideration of the time she had already spent in custody.
She will be eligible for release in August.