A homeless woman who escaped an Auckland quarantine hotel's been given a deferred sentence

43-year-old Suzanne Derrett earlier pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a Covid-19 order - when she scaled a five-foot wall at the Pullman Hotel in late June.

She appeared again in the Dunedin District Court this morning - hoping for a diversion.

The Otago Daily Times report Derrett had been homeless in Australia for six months - and struggled with anxiety, depression and past substance abuse.

But today her application was denied by the head of prosecution in Wellington.

Judge Kevin Phillips says it sounds like her case was put in the too hard basket - and gave her a six-month suspended sentence.