Ricquelle Marston-McKnight appeared before Goulburn Local Court on September 6 via audio visual link from custody. The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to using a false document to influence the exercise of public duty.

The charge related to a letter Marston-McKnight submitted to appeal a previous prison sentence for defrauding $62,000 from a Melbourne conveyancing firm.

Solicitor Rod Boyd told the court for the appeal at Goulburn District Court Marston-McKnight needed a letter from her psychologist. He said the psychologist "refused to provide one" as she had only had one session with the defendant.

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Mr Boyd said the document Marston-McKnight supplied was false: the letter was not written by the psychologist and it stated she had completed three sessions.

"The reason she so desperately wanted to avoid jail is she has sole custody of her two-year-old son," he said.

"The sad reality of this matter is she wanted to avoid going to jail so much it resulted in this offence."

The solicitor argued the child had been taken into the full-time care of his father, who had "blocked contact" with Marston-McKnight. He said his client had no contact with her son since April.

"She is extremely worried [about her child]," Mr Boyd said.

"Her two-year-old son has been in her care his entire life.

"She has learnt a very serious lesson."

Mr Boyd urged Magistrate Geraldine Beattie to find special circumstances, and argued his client had served enough time in jail. He said her previous sentence ended on September 4.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wright argued Marston-McKnight had "penned the letter under the guise of someone else to minimise her sentence for another matter".

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said the letter was typed up by Marston-McKnight on her computer.

"[The defendant] created this letter that looked like it came from a counsellor and provided it to her solicitor."

The magistrate told the court that upon receiving the letter, the crown prosecutor made contact with the psychologist and discovered the document was false.

She said the letter was made "with the intent the judge would read it".

"The reason [the offence] is very serious is it goes to the heart of what we do in the courtroom.

"The court relies on these documents being true. What [Marston-McKnight] has done makes a complete mockery of that."

Marston-McKnight was sentenced to 15-months in jail with a non-parole period of eight months. The sentence was backdated to June 25, 2021.

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